WhatsApp Groups And GDPR

[Maiden1]

I have it on good authority from somebody quite senior working in the Data Protection Commission that they have never been asked their opinion on this by the GAA and that if they were the status quo could very easily be allowed to remain in place simply by asking people for permission to opt in to a group or groups.

I'm not a GDPR expert, but I guess one of the concerns is that when you join your kid up for the u10s you're not being informed that your number is going to be added to the u10s whatsapp group where every other parent parent can view your number. I do think this  is a legitimate concern for some people. The local school teacher may not wish for everyone to view their mobile number. I have seen some prominent GDPR experts whose opinion i respect on twitter saying the gaa are right in regard to their concerns.

However GAA HQ seem very naive to think they can build their own inhouse communications system that will need to be secure and user friendly.

I agree with above on some people having legitimate concerns about giving out there phone number to a large group of people.

I think the gaa are also covering there *ss by advising groups not to use whatsapp.

If a person raised an objection that they where being pestered by someone that got there number from there kids WhatsApp group or that little Johnnie kicking a point is being forwarded to a group of people they do not know the GAA hierarchy can hold there hands up and say 'nothing to do with us, they are breaking GAA official policy'.

[johnnycool]

I have it on good authority from somebody quite senior working in the Data Protection Commission that they have never been asked their opinion on this by the GAA and that if they were the status quo could very easily be allowed to remain in place simply by asking people for permission to opt in to a group or groups.

I'm not a GDPR expert, but I guess one of the concerns is that when you join your kid up for the u10s you're not being informed that your number is going to be added to the u10s whatsapp group where every other parent parent can view your number. I do think this  is a legitimate concern for some people. The local school teacher may not wish for everyone to view their mobile number. I have seen some prominent GDPR experts whose opinion i respect on twitter saying the gaa are right in regard to their concerns.

However GAA HQ seem very naive to think they can build their own inhouse communications system that will need to be secure and user friendly.

Good ole GAA HQ.

They tell you what you can't use but currently offer no viable alternatives.

We're having to look at updating our website to include SMS functionality and allow each team manager access to his/her group only. Parents will be able to receive messages but not respond like they currently do and that's probably a good thing as my phone never stops with thumbs up and the likes over 8, 9 teams and the likes.

Don't want to be sexist but females seem to more impulsive when it comes to responding and then it all kicks off.

This is quite common

"Sorry wee Jonny won't make the blitz on Saturday, he's got a dose of the runs"

"Sadie, that's terrible, hope he gets better soon and doesn't make a mess of your new bathroom tiles"

"Thanks Bridie, I know, just hoping none of the rest get it as well as the washing machine is on two, three times a day already"

Sadie, That bug was going round the school it seems, touch wood, my wee Timmy has avoided it so far, but thinking of you all at this trying time.

Here's hoping your family avoid it Jen..it's terrible,

[Truth hurts]

I have it on good authority from somebody quite senior working in the Data Protection Commission that they have never been asked their opinion on this by the GAA and that if they were the status quo could very easily be allowed to remain in place simply by asking people for permission to opt in to a group or groups.

I'm not a GDPR expert, but I guess one of the concerns is that when you join your kid up for the u10s you're not being informed that your number is going to be added to the u10s whatsapp group where every other parent parent can view your number. I do think this  is a legitimate concern for some people. The local school teacher may not wish for everyone to view their mobile number. I have seen some prominent GDPR experts whose opinion i respect on twitter saying the gaa are right in regard to their concerns.

However GAA HQ seem very naive to think they can build their own inhouse communications system that will need to be secure and user friendly.

Good ole GAA HQ.

They tell you what you can't use but currently offer no viable alternatives.

We're having to look at updating our website to include SMS functionality and allow each team manager access to his/her group only. Parents will be able to receive messages but not respond like they currently do and that's probably a good thing as my phone never stops with thumbs up and the likes over 8, 9 teams and the likes.

Don't want to be sexist but females seem to more impulsive when it comes to responding and then it all kicks off.

This is quite common

"Sorry wee Jonny won't make the blitz on Saturday, he's got a dose of the runs"

"Sadie, that's terrible, hope he gets better soon and doesn't make a mess of your new bathroom tiles"

"Thanks Bridie, I know, just hoping none of the rest get it as well as the washing machine is on two, three times a day already"

Sadie, That bug was going round the school it seems, touch wood, my wee Timmy has avoided it so far, but thinking of you all at this trying time.

Here's hoping your family avoid it Jen..it's terrible,

lol thats funny buts it so right. get well soon, get well soon jesus christ lol

[thewobbler]

I have it on good authority from somebody quite senior working in the Data Protection Commission that they have never been asked their opinion on this by the GAA and that if they were the status quo could very easily be allowed to remain in place simply by asking people for permission to opt in to a group or groups.

I'm not a GDPR expert, but I guess one of the concerns is that when you join your kid up for the u10s you're not being informed that your number is going to be added to the u10s whatsapp group where every other parent parent can view your number. I do think this  is a legitimate concern for some people. The local school teacher may not wish for everyone to view their mobile number. I have seen some prominent GDPR experts whose opinion i respect on twitter saying the gaa are right in regard to their concerns.

However GAA HQ seem very naive to think they can build their own inhouse communications system that will need to be secure and user friendly.

1. Privacy and visibility settings are defined in an agreement between WhatsApp and the end user. It is nothing to do with the GAA. By all means step away from Whatapp if you're concerned by these things, but do not make it a GAA issue.

2. Anybody who wants to get a hold of another local person's phone number will never need to be added into a juvenile football group chat, to accomplish such a goal. One or two calls/messages to their friends in the area is all that's needed. A person's right to anonymity is primarily dictated by their own actions.

[thewobbler]

Johnnycool, surely you have to agree that it's the admins of a group chat who set the standards for acceptable conversation in a chat?

It's really not that difficult to set a few guidelines around keeping chat on-topic.

——

I'm also in a little bit of shock to hear that clubs are reverting to SMS and email alternatives.

There has been an official GAA policy of not paying managers since day 1 of the Association, yet pretty much every club is happy to ignore that rule. Meanwhile, clubs are determined to make the lives of their mentors and members more complicated, on the back of a recommendation.

Classic GAA crossed wires.

[thebackbar1]

Note also that you can configure whatsapp groups where only admins can post to the group !

[johnnycool]

Johnnycool, surely you have to agree that it's the admins of a group chat who set the standards for acceptable conversation in a chat?

It's really not that difficult to set a few guidelines around keeping chat on-topic.

——

I'm also in a little bit of shock to hear that clubs are reverting to SMS and email alternatives.

There has been an official GAA policy of not paying managers since day 1 of the Association, yet pretty much every club is happy to ignore that rule. Meanwhile, clubs are determined to make the lives of their mentors and members more complicated, on the back of a recommendation.

Classic GAA crossed wires.

Trust me wobbler all parents were brought in a the start of last year and our policies to what and what shouldn't be put on messaging and social media was discussed and agreed and I think it lasted as long as first holy communion, I kid you not.

Females just can't help themselves..........

[Last Caress]

I have it on good authority from somebody quite senior working in the Data Protection Commission that they have never been asked their opinion on this by the GAA and that if they were the status quo could very easily be allowed to remain in place simply by asking people for permission to opt in to a group or groups.

I'm not a GDPR expert, but I guess one of the concerns is that when you join your kid up for the u10s you're not being informed that your number is going to be added to the u10s whatsapp group where every other parent parent can view your number. I do think this  is a legitimate concern for some people. The local school teacher may not wish for everyone to view their mobile number. I have seen some prominent GDPR experts whose opinion i respect on twitter saying the gaa are right in regard to their concerns.

However GAA HQ seem very naive to think they can build their own inhouse communications system that will need to be secure and user friendly.

Good ole GAA HQ.

They tell you what you can't use but currently offer no viable alternatives.

We're having to look at updating our website to include SMS functionality and allow each team manager access to his/her group only. Parents will be able to receive messages but not respond like they currently do and that's probably a good thing as my phone never stops with thumbs up and the likes over 8, 9 teams and the likes.

Don't want to be sexist but females seem to more impulsive when it comes to responding and then it all kicks off.

This is quite common

"Sorry wee Jonny won't make the blitz on Saturday, he's got a dose of the runs"

"Sadie, that's terrible, hope he gets better soon and doesn't make a mess of your new bathroom tiles"

"Thanks Bridie, I know, just hoping none of the rest get it as well as the washing machine is on two, three times a day already"

Sadie, That bug was going round the school it seems, touch wood, my wee Timmy has avoided it so far, but thinking of you all at this trying time.

Here's hoping your family avoid it Jen..it's terrible,

The dreaded thumbs up.... the curse of every good WhatsApp group.
We had a message go out about availability of players for a tournament at U10 level. One parent posted a number of holiday snaps (by the pool) showing that wee micky was on holiday and not be available. That in turn triggered a raft of reply messages about the holiday. All parents at the start of the year were told to refrain from using the group for social posts.
There is just no talking to some people.

[Maiden1]

I think below gets round the privacy concerns with WhatsApp.  If you create a broadcast list in WhatsApp then send a message to all the members in the list 'Who is available for the match Friday?' each member of the group gets an individual message and replies only goes to you.

https://blog.interactiveschools.com/blog/whatsapp-broadcast-what-do-you-need-to-know

You can keep using the broadcast list every week once you send your first message by replying to your first message without having to re-enter all the members names (and can remove members from the broadcast list).

[BenDover]

Have many of you tried using Zoom to connect with your teams? Is putting a password on the meetings enough to keep it from being hacked, provided intended audience doesn't share the password?
Heard of terrible reports over the weekend for a nursery session.

[imtommygunn]

People haven't been setting passcodes and have been sharing the links on social media.

I was reading about the issues they are having but the porn etc some dubious people are putting into random meetings seem not to have been hacking but have been meetings with no passwords and either people a) guessing the meeting id or b) getting the meeting link from social media.

Data privacy etc is another story mind you.

[magpie seanie]

People haven't been setting passcodes and have been sharing the links on social media.

I was reading about the issues they are having but the porn etc some dubious people are putting into random meetings seem not to have been hacking but have been meetings with no passwords and either people a) guessing the meeting id or b) getting the meeting link from social media.

Data privacy etc is another story mind you.

The GAA was quite explicit at the outset of all this that ALL activities were to be ceased. One club in Dublin decided to organise their nursery via Zoom. From what I understand they had a dedicated Whatsapp group that parents agreed to join, were notified of the time/date and then 10 minutes beforehand were provided the link and password. Meeting was locked shortly after start time and attendees monitored. They publicised the success on their social media and then other clubs tried to "keep up with the Jones's" but weren't as rigorous in their approach. I believe in one case the login details were shared on social media and when people joined they got a horrible, nasty shock to put it mildly. It wasn't hacking from what I have heard.

Of course you can understand clubs wanting to maintain links with young players but I think the advice of the Association should be followed. This is unnecessary embarrassment for the GAA at a time when there are more important things to worry about.

[marty34]

True, I think it was a nursery group.  What is the value of doing this on-line anyway.  Never mind the GAA's complete shutdown directive, just let the kids play outside in the garden etc. by themselves.

Free play - they'll learn more through that than a 'training session' on-line.  Get a parent to kick a ball with them, play tag and hide- and-seek etc.

Let kids be kids.

[thewobbler]

True, I think it was a nursery group.  What is the value of doing this on-line anyway.  Never mind the GAA's complete shutdown directive, just let the kids play outside in the garden etc. by themselves.

Free play - they'll learn more through that than a 'training session' on-line.  Get a parent to kick a ball with them, play tag and hide- and-seek etc.

Let kids be kids.

There are people across the word who think you can solve any problem, or substitute any void, through modern technology.

What these people fail to realise is that technology only serves a purpose if it improves a pre-existing process or outcome. A dollop of commonsense is all you ever need to rule out most suggestions and possibilities, but people have become obsessed with "seeing what it's like".

[Dinny Breen]

True, I think it was a nursery group.  What is the value of doing this on-line anyway.  Never mind the GAA's complete shutdown directive, just let the kids play outside in the garden etc. by themselves.

Free play - they'll learn more through that than a 'training session' on-line.  Get a parent to kick a ball with them, play tag and hide- and-seek etc.

Let kids be kids.

100%

If I see one more coach trying to remain relevant with some ridiculous drill i will have a "Falling Down' moment.

Just play and stop coaching. Sucking the fun out underage sport for years, no wonder 13 year olds can't wait to drop out.