Trump's Proposed Policy for FIFA World Cup Tourists to Reveal Social Media Histories Described as 'Chilling'

A recently unveiled requirement for World Cup supporters traveling to the United States to disclose personal social media account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Submission for ESTA Applicants

Under the plan, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to submit details about social media accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this data was voluntary.

"These announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

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monitoring that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Roots in an Previous Executive Order

The plan follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Government Statement and Justification

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the matter. "This is not a change on this subject for those traveling to the country," the official stated. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to protect the public safe."

The spokesperson further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist incident in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather further data from foreign nationals applying through the visa waiver programme."