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A recently unveiled requirement for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the United States to disclose personal social media profile details has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit details about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, providing this data was optional.

"These announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," said 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 continued, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is meant to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The proposal follows an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those traveling to the country," the official said. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the American people secure."

The spokesperson added, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals applying through the ESTA program."