Former President Trump's Controversial Plan for FIFA World Cup Tourists to Disclose Social Media Activity Described as 'Chilling'

A newly proposed mandate for World Cup supporters journeying to the US to hand over their social media account information has been branded "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, tourists from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit details about social media accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Until now, submitting this data was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures are deeply concerning," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to embody and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an presidential directive signed by former President Trump in early 2025 that aims "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the US are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for the border agency offered context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson said. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the public secure."

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