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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the US to disclose personal online profile details has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA 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 provide details about online accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Until now, providing this data was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures are deeply concerning," said 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, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Previous Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an executive order issued by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to ensure that all aliens seeking admission the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree possible."

Government Statement and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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 implemented policy, it is merely the initial phase in starting a discussion to have additional measures to protect the public secure."

The representative added, "We are constantly looking at how we screen those coming into the country, particularly after the recent attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the January 2025 Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."