Former President Trump's Proposed Plan for World Cup Visitors to Reveal Online Activity Labeled as 'Alarming'
A newly proposed mandate for World Cup supporters traveling to the United States to hand over personal online account information has been branded "deeply troubling."
Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers
According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to submit details about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, providing this information was voluntary.
"The US government's proposed measures are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."
He added, "The measure creates a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."
Origins in an Earlier Executive Order
The proposal stems from an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in January that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree feasible."
Government Statement and Justification
A representative for the border agency provided clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the country," the official said. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the first step in initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the American people safe."
The spokesperson further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the recent attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."
