Cell phone spying by “My2022”?: Athletes’ association warns of Olympic app

Cell phone spying by “My2022”?
Athletes’ Association warns of Olympic app

The Chinese app “My2022” is intended to provide preventive protection against infection during the Olympic Games. After researchers discovered a weakness in the encryption technology, the Athletes Association in Germany called for quick measures to be taken to protect athletes.

The revelations about IT security gaps in the Olympic “My2022 app” confirm long-held fears of the Athletes Germany Association. “China has perfected its surveillance apparatus, is making critics disappear and is committing blatant human rights violations,” it said in a statement. “We shouldn’t be naive and dismiss unthinkable scenarios lightly.” Instead, the organizers and the International Olympic Committee would have to be prepared for all conceivable scenarios – be it possible manipulation of corona tests, surveillance and spying or reprisals against critical athletes.

“Out of sheer caution, the IOC should take appropriate precautions and be prepared as best as possible to protect the rights of athletes and everyone involved,” it said. However, the IOC and organizers appear to be failing in their duty of care, as the recent report by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab reveals. “It is inexplicable and irresponsible that the IOC obliges participants to use an app with such serious security gaps,” criticized athletes Germany.

For fear of espionage, some countries, including Germany, are providing their athletes with mobile phones free of sensitive data, according to press reports, on which “My2022” can be installed. There are also warnings that Chinese intelligence services could read data not only from cell phones, but also from tablets and laptops.

The researchers at the Canadian University of Toronto had criticized security flaws in “My2022”. Because of a devastating vulnerability in the encryption technology, personal information could be intercepted during transmission, warned researchers at the renowned Citizen Lab. Health data such as medical history, vaccination status, PCR test results, daily temperature measurements in the 14 days before the games and previous trips and passport details are entered into the app. The organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympics have dismissed the fears.

.
source site-33