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A newly proposed mandate for World Cup fans traveling to the United States to hand over their online account information has been branded "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to provide details about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was optional.

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

He continued, "The measure introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an executive order issued by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens wishing to enter the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree feasible."

Government Statement and Justification

A representative for the border agency provided clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the country," the spokesperson said. "This is not a implemented policy, it is merely the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people secure."

The spokesperson further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line 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 gather additional information from foreign nationals applying through the visa waiver programme."