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

Compulsory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, tourists from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to submit information about online accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was voluntary.

"These proposed measures are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

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monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn at once."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

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

Government Statement and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those traveling to the country," the official stated. "This is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the public safe."

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 consistent with the January 2025 Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals using the ESTA program."