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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament fans journeying to the US to hand over personal social media account information has been branded "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Submission for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to provide information about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, providing this data was voluntary.

"These proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No supporter gives up those rights just because they cross a border."

He added, "The measure creates a climate of fear of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order signed by former President Trump in January that seeks "to ensure that all aliens wishing to enter the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this front for those traveling to the United States," the official said. "This is not a implemented policy, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the American people secure."

The spokesperson added, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, particularly after the recent incident in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier directive to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to collect additional information from foreign nationals using the visa waiver programme."