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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Environment
Ruth Michaelson and Guardian reporters

Fears mount that Cop27 app could be used by Egypt to surveil regime’s critics

The Sharm El-Sheikh international convention centre where the Cop27 climate summit will take place.
The Sharm El-Sheikh international convention centre, where the Cop27 climate summit will take place. Photograph: Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

There are mounting fears over the surveillance of delegates at the Cop27 climate talks in Egypt, with cybersecurity experts warning that the official app for the talks requires access to a user’s location, photos and even emails upon downloading it.

The revelation, as more than 25,000 heads of state, diplomats, negotiators, journalists and activists from around the world gather at the climate summit that starts in Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday, has raised concerns that Egypt’s authoritarian regime will be able to use an official platform for a United Nations event to track and harass attendees and critical domestic voices.

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