Former President Trump's Proposed Plan for FIFA World Cup Visitors to Reveal Online Activity Labeled as 'Chilling'

A recently unveiled mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the US to hand over personal social media account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Disclosure for ESTA Applicants

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to provide details about social media accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this information was voluntary.

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

He added, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an presidential directive issued by former President Trump in January that aims "to ensure that all aliens wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those coming to the country," the spokesperson said. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the initial phase in starting a discussion to have additional measures to keep the public safe."

The spokesperson added, "We are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the recent incident in Washington DC. The measure is in line with the January 2025 Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals applying through the visa waiver programme."