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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament fans journeying to the US to hand over personal social media account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Submission for Visa Waiver Applicants

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

"The US government's proposed measures are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He added, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Response and Justification

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided context on the matter. "This is not a change on this subject for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson said. "It 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 spokesperson further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist incident in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to vet those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather additional information from foreign nationals using the visa waiver programme."