Alabama students, meet Big Brother.
In a move shades of “1984,” the University of Alabama is tracking students through its Tide Loyalty Points app to see whethe🎃r they stay the full four quarters, .
Those who do, and download the app, will be rewarded with priority access to tickets♏ for the College Football Playoff, which the Crimson Tide has reached the past fo൩ur seasons.
Other schools use similar location-tracking technology, through the app developer Fan🌜Maker.
Alabama athletic directo𒉰r Greg Bryne told the Times students will only be tracked inside the stadium.
“If anybod🌜y has a phone, unless you’re ღin airplane mode or have it off, the cellular companies know where you are,” Byrne said.
But Alabama’s move is “very alarming,” Adam Schwartz — a lawyer for t🔴he Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy non-profit — 𝓰told the Times. “Why should packing the stadium in the fourth quarter be the last time the government wants to know where students are?”
Alabama coach Nick Saban has in the past criticized fans for leaving Bryant-Denny Stadium💝 early, as the Crimson Tide usually blow o🔯ut opponents at home.
Over the decade, college football attendance numb𝐆ers have steadily dipped across the country.
“Everybody takes everything for granted,” . “I mean, I’m sure there was a lot of Tennessee fans last week that took it for granted that they were going to beat Georgia State, and they didn’t. So, you’ve got to play well … and you should support well all the time, as well.”
Last weekend, 🦋Saban’s No. 2-ranked team led New Mexico State 38-0 by halftime as temperatures soared into triple figures, and ended up win🃏ning 62-10.
Many stude🌠nts were unable to access the app🐠 due to technological difficulties, and in response, FanMaker, has improved its servers for Saturday’s game against South Carolina.
It also plans to give st𝓀udents full loyalty points amid unsafe weather☂ conditions and “extended interruptions.