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Tory conference app flaw reveals private data of senior MPs Major security flaw in Tory conference app reveals users' data
(about 2 hours later)
A major flaw in the Conservative’s official conference mobile phone application has made the private data of senior party members – including cabinet members – accessible to anyone that logged in as a conference attendee. A major flaw in the Conservative’s official conference mobile phone application has made the private data of senior party members – including cabinet ministers – accessible to anyone that logged in as that particular conference attendee.
The data of every person who registered to attend the Tory conference through the app could be viewed, with Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and others among hundreds of diplomats, dignitaries and party members whose personal information was revealed. The data of hundreds of attendees to the Tory conference could be viewed by second guessing attendees’ email addresses, with Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Gavin Williamson and others among those whose personal information – including their phone numbers – was made accessible.
Several ministers, including those in roles with top-ranking security clearance, reportedly received prank calls from members of the public. Once logged into the app, users were able to both amend and make the personal details of prominent MPs public. Twitter users claimed Johnson’s picture had been briefly changed to one featuring a pornographic image.
The breach enraged senior ministers and one Whitehall source described the error as “fucking ridiculous”. Anger was aimed at Brandon Lewis, the Tory party chairman, whose duties include overseeing the conference. Gove’s picture was changed to Rupert Murdoch, his previous employer at the Times. Anyone could log in as any attendee by providing an email with no password. Many MPs had registered with their public parliamentary email addresses, making it simple for any member of the public to access their mobile number via the app.
A senior Tory said: “Brandon Lewis is telling everyone who will listen that he could be the man to run the country – yet this conference fiasco shows he couldn’t run a bath.” Commentators said the flaw raised questions over the ability of the ­government to harness technology to solve issues around the Irish border and customs checks. The app may also have breached data laws. Its privacy policy states that it “complies with … the European Union’s general data protection regulation (GDPR)”.
Lewis was due to unveil the new app in a speech on Sunday as part of a wider set of measures in an attempt at overhauling “the oldest and most successful political party in the world”. The breach enraged senior ­ministers. One Whitehall source described the error as “fucking ­ridiculous”. Anger was immediately aimed at Brandon Lewis, the Tory party chairman whose duties include overseeing the conference.
The party’s first “interactive” conference app allows rank and file members to provide feedback during cabinet ministers’ speeches, among other functions. Labour said that the mishap raised questions around national ­security and recommended the Tories ­provide computer training to its members. “How can we trust this Tory government with our country’s security when they can’t even build a conference app that keeps the data of their members, MPs and others attending safe and secure?”, said John Trickett, the shadow Cabinet Office minister.
It also contains a list of events taking place at the conference including Rise of Tech Giants and Data Capitalism and a panel discussion on GovTech and the Future of Public Service Delivery.
The Conservative party said: “The technical issue has been resolved and the app is now functioning securely. We are investigating the issue further and apologise for any concern caused.”
The Information Commissioner’s Office, the independent authority that upholds data rights in the public interest, said it would be making inquiries about the breach, opening the possibility that the party could be censured and face fines. The watchdog added: “organisations have a legal duty to keep personal data safe and secure”.
Under the EU’s general data protection regulation (GDPR), organisations must notify the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach, if it could pose a risk to people’s rights and freedoms.
Users, once logged into the app, were able to both amend and make the personal details of prominent MPs public. Twitter users claimed Johnson’s picture had been briefly changed to one featuring a pornographic image. Gove’s picture was changed to Rupert Murdoch, his previous employer at the Times.
Anyone could log in as any attendee by providing an email with no password. Many MPs had registered with their public parliamentary email addresses, making it simple for any member of the public to access their mobile number.
Commentators said the flaw raised questions over the ability of the government to harness technology to solve issues around the Irish border and customs checks. Labour said that the mishap raised questions around national security and recommended the Tories provide computer training to its members.
“How can we trust this Tory government with our country’s security when they can’t even build a conference app that keeps the data of their members, MPs and others attending safe and secure?” said Jon Trickett, the shadow Cabinet Office minister.
“The Conservative party should roll out some basic computer security training to get their house in order.”“The Conservative party should roll out some basic computer security training to get their house in order.”
A Momentum spokesperson criticised the “staggering incompetence” of the Conservative party and cited the success of its own in-house app during the Labour party conference. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it would be ­making inquiries about the breach and added that “organisations have a legal duty to keep personal data safe and secure”.
A Momentum spokesperson criticised the “staggering incompetence” of the Conservative party and cited the success of its own in-house app during the Labour party conference this week.
“This sums up the Tories, staggeringly incompetent and out of touch with the modern world,” they said. “They can’t even build a basic conference app without a huge data breach, and it’s terrifying that they’re in charge of the tech that runs our hospitals, schools and airports.“This sums up the Tories, staggeringly incompetent and out of touch with the modern world,” they said. “They can’t even build a basic conference app without a huge data breach, and it’s terrifying that they’re in charge of the tech that runs our hospitals, schools and airports.
“Our conference app was built by a team of volunteers for next to no money, and I’m sure they’d be happy to give the Tories a few tips for next year.”“Our conference app was built by a team of volunteers for next to no money, and I’m sure they’d be happy to give the Tories a few tips for next year.”
It's let me login as Boris Johnson, and just straight up given me all the details used for his registration pic.twitter.com/fLNC06azx7It's let me login as Boris Johnson, and just straight up given me all the details used for his registration pic.twitter.com/fLNC06azx7
The Guardian columnist Dawn Foster was among the first to notice the flaw and swiftly raised the alarm on Saturday before the app, created by an Australian firm called Crown Comms, was updated and the login function removed. The Guardian columnist Dawn Foster was among the first to notice the flaw and swiftly raised the alarm on Saturday.
Theresa May has refused to respond to questions from reporters about the embarrassing security blunder as she arrived in Birmingham. “The Tory conference app allows you to log in as other people and view their contact details just with their email address, no emailed security links, and post comments as them,” she tweeted.
It follows the gaffe that unfolded last year during the prime minister’s keynote speech when a comedian managed to get to the front of the stage and pass her a P45, which she accepted. “They’ve essentially made every journalist, politician and attendee’s mobile number public. Fantastic.”
The set behind her – featuring the slogan “Building a county that works for everyone” – soon began to fall apart, and she lost her voice, prompting the chancellor, Philip Hammond, to offer her a cough sweet. The app, created by an Australian firm called Crown Comms, was updated and the login function removed after concerns were raised with the party.
The Conservative party said in a statement: “The technical issue has been resolved and the app is now functioning securely. We are investigating the issue further and apologise for any concern caused.”
The prime minister, Theresa May, refused to respond to questions from reporters about the embarrassing security blunder as she arrived in Birmingham.
It follows the gaffe that unfolded last year during Theresa May’s keynote speech when a comedian managed to get to the front of the stage and pass her a P45, which she accepted.
The set behind her – featuring the slogan ‘“Building a county that works for everyone”’ – soon began to fall apart, and she lost her voice, prompting the shadow chancellor, Phillip Hammond, to offer her a cough sweet.
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