The GAA has encouraged clubs to stop using WhatsApp.
That's because of data protection fears.
Your name, photo and phone number appear when you're added to a group.
That means they can be shared quickly with a lot of people.
But this news hasn't gone down well everywhere.
Monday: Blame fans for stile & ticket issues at Croke Park...
Tuesday: Blame fans for using WhatsApp...
I wonder what GAA HQ will blame us for on Wednesday! #gaa— Killian Whelan (@Killian_Whelan) January 28, 2020
Offensive Material
Kelly Cunningham is the GAA's Data Protection Officer.
"There are another few issues with WhatsApp as well."
"If there is a group set up and an individual puts unsuitable material into a group and then exits the group, the club have no authority to be able to remove that material afterwards."
Consent is Key
If you're added to a group without your consent your number is added.
That's even if you leave immediately, though some people have mixed feelings about leaving!
Solicitor Sarah Kieran wants the Data Protection Commissioner to make a statement.
"We are still waiting for the Data Protection Commissioner to come out with findings in relation to data breaches."
"Anyone who sets up a group like that, where they're collecting private data or personal data relating to recognisable individuals, they are called Data Controllers."
"The law applies to them basically."
Of all the things that could be concerning the GAA, clubs using a WhatsApp group 🙄 would they get real!
— Brian O Halloran (@brianoh91) January 28, 2020
Sarah explained what these group admins need to do.
"They have to be able to be in control of this data, be able to tell people what they're doing with it and to know what's being done with it."
You can block people from adding you to groups automatically with these instructions.
