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

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to provide information about social media accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Until now, providing this data was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "The measure creates a climate of fear of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to embody and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The plan stems from an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in January that aims "to ensure that all aliens wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree feasible."

Government Statement and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson said. "It is not a implemented policy, it is merely the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the American people secure."

The spokesperson further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in the capital. This new proposal is consistent 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 applying through the visa waiver programme."