Trump's Controversial Plan for FIFA World Cup Tourists to Reveal Online Activity Labeled as 'Alarming'
A recently unveiled mandate for World Cup fans traveling to the US to hand over their online profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."
Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers
According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to submit information about social media accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this data was optional.
"These announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."
He continued, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is supposed to embody and it must be rescinded at once."
Roots in an Earlier Executive Order
The proposal stems from an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that aims "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."
Government Response and Reasoning
A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this subject for those traveling to the country," the official said. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have additional measures to keep the American people safe."
The representative added, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, especially after the terrorist incident in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by allowing CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens using the ESTA program."
