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A recently unveiled requirement for soccer tournament fans traveling to the US to hand over their social media account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Applicants

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to provide details about social media accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Previously, providing this data was optional.

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "The measure introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The plan follows an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that aims "to ensure that all aliens seeking admission the United States are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Government Statement and Justification

A representative for the border agency provided clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the country," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the American people safe."

The representative further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the recent attack in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals using the ESTA program."