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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the United States to hand over their online profile details has been branded "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission for ESTA Applicants

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 social media accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Until now, providing this data was optional.

"The US government's announced plans are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No supporter gives up those rights just because they cross a border."

He added, "This policy introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in January that aims "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Statement and Justification

A representative for the border agency offered clarification on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those coming to the country," the spokesperson stated. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the American people secure."

The representative added, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, especially after the terrorist incident in the capital. The measure is in line with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."