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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the United States to hand over personal online account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to submit details about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Until now, providing this information was optional.

"These announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter gives up those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Roots in an Earlier Executive Order

The plan follows an presidential directive signed by former President Trump in January that aims "to guarantee that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Government Response and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the American people safe."

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