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FIFA World Cup apps come loaded with spyware

FIFA World Cup apps come loaded with spyware
Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

If you plan on visiting Qatar this year for the FIFA World Cup, you’d best be prepared to experience incessant, involuntary, and limitless breaches of your privacy and security. Privacy, you may be aware, is highlighted in the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner’s Special Rapporteur on International standards as a universal human right. Obviously, unless you live in a communist nation.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 app DOWNLOAD

The fact is, however, that Qatar is not a communist nation. Qatar is a semi-constitutional hereditary monarchy where the Emir is the head of state and chief executive of the kingdom. Someone seems to have forgotten to tell Qatar about this, though, because the nation is wilfully going against your universal right to privacy. Qatar has mandated the download of two highly-questionable applications that not only track your location and have access to your apps but can also write and delete files on your system. 

Ehteraz is a Covid-19 tracker, and Hayya is an app that controls entry to the various stadiums in Qatar. Hayya also grants visitors access to free usage of the bus and metro transportation services. These apps are non-optional. 

Even before the use of Ehteraz for the World Cup the app was under heavy scrutiny. This is because the app literally allows remote access to your phone and all of its files. Ehteraz can also make calls without your permission or intervention. The app requires that your location services be turned on for the duration of your stay – an already questionable pre-requisite to watching the 2022 FIFA World Cup live. 

FIFA World Cup apps come loaded with spyware

Tom Lysemose, the co-founder and CTO of Promon, an app security form, recently spoke to The Register about the app. ‘Ehteraz is able to install an encrypted file that claims to hold a unique ID, QR code, infection status, configuration parameters and proximity data of other devices using the app. Essentially, it is clear that the app is taking data from the end user for more reasons than are expressed by the given consent button.

Even though this is a terrifying prospect, there are a few actions you can take to protect yourself from these attacks on your privacy. Norway’s head of security is on record as having told the Norwegian Broadcasting Company: ‘I would never bring my mobile phone on a visit to Qatar.’ 

 CNIL, the French data protection agency, suggests that a burner phone may be the best way to secure your private information from the clearly prying eyes of the Qatar establishment.

The best way to circumvent these Orwellian rules would be to enjoy the World Cup from your favorite streaming service. Peacock is confirmed to be streaming Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup from the 20th of November. If you want to get into some gaming action, be sure to check out FIFA 23.

Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

I hail from the awe-inspiring beauty of South Africa. Born and raised in Pretoria, I've always had a deep interest in local history, particularly conflicts, architecture, and our country's rich past of being a plaything for European aristocracy. 'Tis an attempt at humor. My interest in history has since translated into hours at a time researching everything from the many reasons the Titanic sank (really, it's a wonder she ever left Belfast) to why Minecraft is such a feat of human technological accomplishment. I am an avid video gamer (Sims 4 definitely counts as video gaming, I checked) and particularly enjoy playing the part of a relatively benign overlord in Minecraft. I enjoy the diverse experiences gaming offers the player. Within the space of a few hours, a player can go from having a career as an interior decorator in Sims, to training as an archer under Niruin in Skyrim. I believe video games have so much more to teach humanity about community, kindness, and loyalty, and I enjoy the opportunity to bring concepts of the like into literary pieces.

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