🔗 Share this article

A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament fans traveling to the US to disclose their social media account information has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, tourists from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to provide details about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, submitting this data was voluntary.

"These announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

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of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The plan follows an presidential directive issued by former President Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency provided clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those coming to the United States," the official said. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, especially after the terrorist incident in the capital. This new proposal is in line with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are coming into this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to collect additional information from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."