🔗 Share this article

A recently unveiled requirement for soccer tournament fans traveling to the United States to disclose personal social media profile details has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Submission for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, visitors from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit details about social media accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Previously, submitting this data was voluntary.

"The US government's proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "The measure introduces a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is meant to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The plan follows an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in January that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree possible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those coming to the country," the official said. "It is not a final rule, it is merely the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the American people safe."

The representative further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in Washington DC. The measure is consistent with the earlier directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."