🔗 Share this article

A newly proposed mandate for World Cup fans traveling to the US to disclose personal social media account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

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

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "This policy introduces a climate of fear of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is meant to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Previous Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order signed by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Government Response and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided context on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those coming to the country," the official stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the American people safe."

The spokesperson further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 Executive Order to vet those who are coming into this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens using the ESTA program."