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A recently unveiled requirement for World Cup fans traveling to the United States to disclose personal online profile details has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Submission for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, tourists from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to provide details about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was optional.

"The US government's announced plans 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 supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

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that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal follows an executive order issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens wishing to enter the United States are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Government Response and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this subject for those coming to the country," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the recent incident in the capital. The measure is in line with the earlier directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."