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

A recently unveiled mandate for World Cup supporters traveling to the US to disclose their online profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Submission for ESTA Applicants

According to the proposal, tourists from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to provide information about online accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Previously, providing this information was voluntary.

"These proposed measures are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The plan stems from an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in January that aims "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree possible."

Government Response and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the public safe."

The representative further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in the capital. This new proposal is in line with the January 2025 Executive Order to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect additional information from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."