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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the United States to hand over personal social media account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit information about social media accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Previously, providing this data was voluntary.

"These announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right of privacy are universal human rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "The measure introduces a climate of fear of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."

Origins in an Previous Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the matter. "This is not a change on this subject for those traveling to the country," the official stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to protect the public secure."

The spokesperson further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in the capital. The measure is in line with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals using the visa waiver programme."