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A recently unveiled mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the US to disclose personal online profile details has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Submission for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, tourists from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to submit details about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, submitting this information was optional.

"These announced plans are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He added, "This policy creates a climate of fear of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Previous Executive Order

The proposal follows an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens wishing to enter the United States are vetted and screened to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Statement and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the matter. "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 starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the public safe."

The representative added, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the recent attack in Washington DC. The measure is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals using the ESTA program."