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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the United States to hand over personal online account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit details about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, submitting this data was voluntary.

"The US government's announced plans are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are universal human rights. No football fan gives up those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "The measure introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an executive order issued by former President Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Response and Justification

A representative for the border agency offered clarification on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson said. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have additional measures to protect the American people safe."

The representative added, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the recent incident in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."