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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the US to disclose personal online profile details has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to provide information about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, submitting this data was optional.

"These announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "The measure creates a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Previous Executive Order

The proposal stems from an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Government Response and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the United States," the official said. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the initial phase in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the public secure."

The representative added, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the recent attack in Washington DC. The measure is in line with the earlier Executive Order to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect additional information from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."