Concern as Arsenal harvest fans' data by running online survey

Arsenal’s deal with Tel Aviv-based company KonnecTo has caused some comment at a time when data harvesting and online security of private information are hot topics.

Intelligence-based data collection and analysis platform KonnecTo, run by ex-Israeli military staff, are one of six start-up companies that the club are partnering as part of an initiative to gain a deeper understanding of the Arsenal fanbase.

But concern has arisen following Arsenal and KonnecTo running an online survey for fans in Nigeria with a competition prize as an incentive.

KonnecTo are partnering Arsenal as part of an initiative to gain a big understanding of fanbase

For by signing up for the survey, fans agreed to let KonnecTo trawl their data on social media at a highly sensitive time on the cyber front — collecting pictures and mentions of brands.

Data protection laws in Europe meant that such an exercise would never be allowed but those regulations do not exist in Nigeria. Arsenal say they chose the African country because of their strong fanbase there since Kanu played for them. A club spokesman added that it was a trial project and all those taking part had given permission for their data to be scrutinised.

Meanwhile, mystery still surrounds who is buying Arsenal shares for a record-breaking price of £37,000 when regulations mean the two major shareholders, Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov, would have to declare any extra purchases.

Adam Lallana's family have indicated they will be in Russia for the World Cup if Lallana makes Gareth Southgate’s squad after an injury-plagued season. However, they will not be travelling around hostile Russia in a camper van, as they did at Euro 2016 in France.

Adam Lallana's family will not travel around Russia in a camper van if he goes to the World Cup

It has emerged that Sky Sports failed to agree terms of a new contract with presenter Natalie Sawyer because expectations differed over her role. It is understood she wanted more opportunities away from the autocue. Sky also have cost-cutting requirements throughout the business ahead of the mooted sale to Fox.

Meanwhile, Sawyer’s golf expert colleague Kirsty Gallacher, daughter of Ryder Cup-winning captain Bernard Gallacher, will be missing from the Masters in Augusta for a second year in a row.

But unlike last year, when upset Kirsty went on holiday, she will be presenting some of the Augusta coverage from Isleworth — the type of opportunity that Sawyer wanted in future.

Sky Sports failed to agree terms of a new deal with long-standing presenter Natalie Sawyer 

Terry Burwell, former senior executive at the RFU who lost his job in a purge known as the night of the long knives carried out by short-lived CEO John Steele in 2011, will be making a welcome return to Twickenham as the council representative for Hampshire. At least Burwell is more interested in rugby issues than the constant supply of free booze on tap for the blazers at Twickenham.

Gosper too distracted 

World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper is busy tweeting about Australian cricket’s ball-tampering when he should be focused on sorting out a major scandal on his own watch — Romania qualifying for the Rugby World Cup finals in suspicious circumstances.

Their qualification came courtesy of Belgium beating Spain 18-10 in a match officiated by three Romanian officials. World Rugby say they are already asking questions behind the scenes and are waiting for Rugby Europe’s inquiry.

Brett Gosper should be focusing on a big scandal on his watch, not Australia's ball-tampering

The Premier League may still have two unwanted TV rights packages left to sell — which are not going to be included in a bundle with clips rights and delayed live rights despite some broadcasters’ hopes. 

But at least the process has been less murky than the Asian Football Confederation rights sale, where former PL executive Phil Lines resigned on the eve of the bid deadline. 

Lines had spent two years preparing for the AFC’s first transparent sale of their TV rights. Previously, AFC had sold the contracts to Lagardere Sports Agency subsidiary World Sports Group without a tender.

 

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