Trump's Proposed Policy for FIFA World Cup Tourists to Disclose Social Media Histories Labeled as 'Chilling'
A newly proposed mandate for World Cup fans journeying to the US to disclose personal social media profile details has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."
Compulsory Submission for Visa Waiver Travelers
According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to provide details about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, submitting this data was optional.
"These proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."
He continued, "This policy creates a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to embody and it must be rescinded at once."
Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive
The proposal stems from an executive order signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."
Official Response and Justification
A spokesperson for the border agency offered context on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the public secure."
The representative further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, particularly after the recent attack in Washington DC. The measure is in line with the earlier directive to vet those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens using the visa waiver programme."
