Trump's Proposed Plan for World Cup Tourists to Disclose Social Media Histories Labeled as 'Chilling'
A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament fans traveling to the United States to disclose personal social media profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."
Mandatory Submission for ESTA Travelers
According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to submit information about social media accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Previously, providing this data was optional.
"The US government's announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan gives up those rights just because they enter a country."
He continued, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is meant to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."
Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive
The proposal follows an presidential directive issued by former President Trump in early 2025 that aims "to ensure that all aliens seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree feasible."
Official Response and Reasoning
A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided context on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the United States," the official said. "This is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step 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, particularly after the terrorist incident in the capital. The measure is consistent with the earlier directive to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens using the ESTA program."