New Somalia e-visa system security flaw exposes sensitive personal data

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
2h ago
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Somalia's new e-visa system has a security flaw exposing sensitive applicant data, compounding earlier major breaches. Authorities have not fixed or notified victims.
New Somalia e-visa system security flaw exposes sensitive personal data
A What happened
Somalia's recently launched e-visa website exhibits a critical security vulnerability that exposes detailed personal information of visa applicants, including passport numbers, full names, and birthdates. This flaw was demonstrated by Al Jazeera, who replicated the data leak affecting applicants from Somalia, the US, Europe, and beyond. The vulnerability follows a high-profile unauthorized data breach last November that compromised data of more than 35,000 applicants. Despite alerts from cybersecurity experts and media, Somali authorities have neither fixed the security issues nor notified affected individuals, violating their own data protection laws. This incident reflects broader challenges of deploying digital immigration systems rapidly without adequate cybersecurity infrastructure, risking identity theft, fraud, and international legal complications.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Digital border infrastructure risks: Somalia's rushed deployment of an e-visa system without sufficient cybersecurity measures illustrates a broader global challenge: balancing technological modernization with safeguarding sensitive personal data.

  • 2

    Accountability gaps in data breach responses: Somalia's failure to respond to breach reports or notify affected individuals reveals structural weaknesses in enforcing data protection laws and transparency.

  • 3

    Cross-border data protection complexities: The data exposure affects multiple nationalities, creating complicated legal obligations across jurisdictions. Managing data breaches involving individuals from different countries requires coordinated international legal and cybersecurity responses, which

Takeaways

Somalia's e-visa system security gap reveals critical vulnerabilities in digital government services and data protection enforcement. Addressing these is essential to protect individuals and maintain credibility in cross-border migration management.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Cybersecurity World & Politics Policy & Regulation International Affairs Governance Security & Defense