Amsterdam football club Ajax has confirmed that a leak in its computer system made it possible to see the private data of over 300,000 registered Ajax fans, disable over 42,000 season tickers, and even lift stadium bans, RTL Nieuws reported following a tip-off from a hacker.
The data also show the names of the people who have been banned and why, including the possession of cocaine and fights with stewards, RTL said.
No-one has said if hackers actually gained access to the data but it would be popular, an F-side supporter told RTL. “This could mean big money on the black market. A lot of people would pay good money get their season ticket back,’ he said.
“This type of information can be used against people,” professor of privacy and cyber crime Bart Schermer said. “Potential employers won’t be very happy to employ someone with a stadium ban. It says something about the person.”
Supporters group chairman Frank Kriellaars said he was “shocked” that private data could be accessed so easily. “We have warned against linking all sorts of data to the season ticket. It just goes to show that linking your ID to it is extremely sensitive,” said.
According to Ajax director Menno Geelen, the hack has revealed “vulnerabilities”. The club has reported the matter to the Dutch privacy watchdog AP and the police. It is currently investigating the potential leak, tightening security and dealing with known problems.
The club has also informed fans. “We understand that people are wondering if their personal data are safe. The answer is that unfortunately we can’t guarantee 100% safety. But it is our duty to make sure the risk of leaks is kept as small as possible,” Geelen said.
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