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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament fans traveling to the US to disclose their online account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Submission for Visa Waiver Applicants

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

"These proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

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of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The plan stems from an presidential directive issued by former President Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens wishing to enter the United States are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent possible."

Government Statement and Justification

A representative for the border agency offered clarification on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe."

The spokesperson added, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those entering the country, especially after the terrorist incident in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to collect additional information from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."