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A newly proposed requirement for World Cup supporters traveling to the US to disclose personal online account information has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, tourists from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to submit details about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "The measure introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal stems from an presidential directive issued by former President Trump in January that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the American people secure."

The spokesperson further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier directive to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."