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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament fans traveling to the United States to hand over personal online account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

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

"These proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right of privacy are universal human rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "The measure introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Previous Executive Order

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

Official Response and Justification

A representative for the border agency provided context on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those traveling to the United States," the official stated. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the American people secure."

The representative added, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the recent incident in the capital. The measure is in line with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect additional information from foreign nationals applying through the ESTA program."