The 2022 World Cup will soon start in Qatar, but the negative news doesn’t stop even shortly before the start of the football event. Now fans are being forced to use apps that are brimming with security flaws. We’ll show you what it’s all about.
As the 2022 World Cup in Qatar approaches, the football event will officially kick off on November 20th. The scandals continue, however, making the World Cup one of the most controversial of all time. Not only the press is restricted in its reporting by the desert state, but also on-site viewers.
THE APPS ARE MANDATORY, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT
The thought behind it makes sense, because the corona virus is still in the world. The virus can easily spread at mass events like the World Cup . But Qatar’s Corona app Ehteraz is full of security gaps, as reported by the public media authority NRK (Norsk rikskringkasting) from Norway. The spicy thing: Qatar is forcing those spectators who want to watch the 2022 World Cup in the stadium to install the app.
The problem with Ehteraz is that the app can also access more information on the smartphone it is installed on. This includes Wi -Fi and Bluetooth connections and specific real-time location details. The app therefore collects user data, but also stores it in a central storage location in combination with an ID number, which can thus be assigned to individual persons. In addition to the NRK, Amnesty International 2020 warned of Qatar’s Corona app, which could potentially collect data and spy on users.
HAYYA: OFFICIAL SOCCER APP NO BETTER
There is also an official app for the World Cup in Qatar: it’s called Hayya and it offers lots of information about the championship. In theory. But it is also said to have security gaps, but is necessary on site. Because in addition to the Hayya World Cup app, there is the Hayya Card, which relieves fans of the organization on site – for example visiting the stadium or traveling on local transport. But the card is in turn linked to the World Cup app, so that you ultimately have to install three apps on your cell phone when visiting Qatar.
Like Ehteraz, Hayya itself should also be able to read out private information, including WLAN connections and the location. According to the NRK, the app should also prevent users from going into sleep mode.
WORLD CUP 2022: MONITORING BY NECESSARY APPS?
According to the NRK, all visitors to the World Cup in Qatar have at least the risk of being monitored and spied on via the apps. Because the desired access rights to the user’s cell phone go beyond all measure.
The IT experts at the Norwegian media authority advise football fans traveling to Qatar for the World Cup not to install the apps or not to take their cell phones with them on the trip. What could then serve as an alternative is unclear.
