Former President Trump's Proposed Plan for FIFA World Cup Visitors to Disclose Social Media Histories Labeled as 'Alarming'
A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament fans journeying to the United States to hand over personal social media profile details has been called "deeply troubling."
Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers
Under the plan, tourists from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit information about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was optional.
"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 cross a border."
He continued, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."
Roots in an Previous Executive Order
The proposal follows an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the United States are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree feasible."
Government Response and Reasoning
A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson said. "This is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the American people safe."
The spokesperson added, "The department are continuously evaluating how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in the capital. The measure is consistent with the earlier directive to vet those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens using the ESTA program."
