Trump's Proposed Plan for World Cup Tourists to Reveal Social Media Activity Labeled as 'Chilling'

A newly proposed mandate for World Cup supporters traveling to the US to hand over their social media account information has been branded "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Applicants

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

"These announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He added, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is meant to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Previous Executive Order

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

Official Statement and Justification

A spokesperson for the border agency provided context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson stated. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the first step in initiating a process to have new policy options to protect the American people secure."

The representative added, "The department are constantly looking at how we screen those coming into the country, particularly after the recent attack in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."