The list of concerns for the roughly 1.2 million people heading to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup appears to be growing.
Qatar’s government is requiring all foreign visitors to download a pair of apps that provide officials with rights to access data on their phones — which could be considered spyware.
“It’s not my job to give travel advice, but personally, I would never bring my mobile phone on a visit to Qatar,” said NRK head of security Øyvind Vasaasen.
- Qatar is requiring visitors to download Ehteraz and Hayya.
- Ehteraz is a COVID-19 tracking app that can manipulate content on a user’s phone.
- It can also override installed software and disable a phone’s lock screen.
- Hayya, which tracks matches, has permission to share information on a user’s phone.
The World Cup — which runs Nov. 20 through Dec. 18 — has also had concerns regarding fan accommodations, security, and lack of infrastructure.
Nothing to See Here
Qatar will impose media restrictions on international broadcast crews for the tournament.
Broadcasters will be barred from filming at government buildings, schools, housing for migrant workers, places of worship, and hospitals. Crews will also be restricted from recording at residential properties and private businesses.
