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A recently unveiled mandate for World Cup fans traveling to the US to hand over personal social media account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Submission for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to submit details about online accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this data was voluntary.

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

He added, "This policy creates a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is supposed to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."

Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The plan stems from an executive order issued by former President Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Government Response and Justification

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson said. "It is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the public safe."

The spokesperson added, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the recent attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the earlier directive to vet those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."