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A newly proposed mandate for World Cup fans journeying to the United States to hand over personal social media profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to submit information about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was voluntary.

"These announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is supposed to embody and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal stems from an presidential directive signed by former President Trump in early 2025 that aims "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the issue. "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 initial phase in starting a discussion to have additional measures to keep the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we screen those coming into the country, particularly after the recent attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."