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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament fans journeying to the United States to disclose personal social media account information has been branded "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission 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 provide information about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Previously, providing this information was optional.

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

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surveillance that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is supposed to embody and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order issued by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to ensure that all aliens wishing to enter the US are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency offered context on the issue. "This is not a change on this subject for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson said. "It is not a implemented policy, it is merely the first step in initiating a process to have new policy options to protect the American people secure."

The representative added, "The department are continuously evaluating how we screen those entering the country, especially after the recent attack in the capital. The measure is consistent with the January 2025 Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."