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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament fans traveling to the US to disclose personal online profile details has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory 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 required to provide information about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this data was voluntary.

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "The measure creates a climate of fear of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent possible."

Government Statement and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency provided clarification on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those coming to the country," the official said. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the public secure."

The representative further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. The measure is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to collect additional information from foreign nationals using the visa waiver programme."