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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the US to disclose personal online account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Applicants

Under the plan, tourists from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to submit information about online accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Previously, submitting this data was optional.

"The US government's announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are universal human rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "This policy creates a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal follows an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in January that aims "to guarantee that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Government Statement and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency provided clarification on the issue. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to protect the public secure."

The spokesperson further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, especially after the recent incident in Washington DC. The measure is in line with the earlier directive to vet those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."