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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 branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Applicants

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

"The US government's proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter gives up those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "The measure creates a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to represent and it must be withdrawn at once."

Origins in an Previous Executive Order

The proposal stems from an executive order issued by former President Trump in January that aims "to guarantee that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Government Response and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson said. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the public safe."

The representative added, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those entering the country, especially after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals applying through the ESTA program."