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A recently unveiled mandate for World Cup fans traveling to the US to disclose personal social media profile details has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Submission for ESTA Applicants

Under the plan, tourists from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to provide information about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, submitting this information was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter gives up those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal follows an presidential directive issued by former President Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all aliens wishing to enter the United States are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency provided clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the American people safe."

The representative further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the recent incident in Washington DC. The measure is consistent with the earlier directive to vet those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."