Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Huge Cell, Internet Spy Biz Operates in Secret

Libya, Syria used tools during Arab Spring

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 19, 2011 5:19 PM CST

(Newser) – Internet and cell phone surveillance has ballooned into a $5-billion-a-year business that operates far from the public eye, the Wall Street Journal reports. Confidential buyers can use the tools to steal information directly from your phone, monitor tens of thousands of cell calls, or use "massive intercept" gear that collects the Internet communication of an entire country. (See the marketing documents acquired by the Journal.) Some tools ended up in the hands of Libyan and Syrian officials during the Arab Spring.

Companies say they obey export laws and only sell their products to help others catch crooks—but, they add, they can't be held responsible for how their tools are used, or whether they are resold to less reputable buyers. "We don't really get into asking, 'Is this in the public interest?'" says one trade-show organizer. The co-founder of a German company says, "It's like a knife. You can always cut vegetables but you can also kill your neighbor." He called it "a constant moral, ethical dilemma we have."

Denied access to two surveillance conferences, the Wall Street Journal obtained marketing documents that reveal the details of today's huge surveillance business.
Denied access to two surveillance conferences, the Wall Street Journal obtained marketing documents that reveal the details of today's huge surveillance business.   (Shutterstock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
3%
3%
4%
3%
79%
8%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
NotTooSerious
Nov 20, 2011 3:07 PM CST
"a constant moral, ethical dilemma we have." LOL, haven't heard a bigger crock of Sh!t since I read any of @newser-6e6fb8c5b35698d3cfb6633368c5b857:disqus posts.  Clearly there is NO dilemma since you're doing it without a second though.  Can we petition to have these scumbags be closed down for violating our(and everyone's) civil rights to privacy?
WallyEFunk
Nov 20, 2011 7:08 AM CST
Since you can't trust no one, using TOR will help, since it's a lot harder if not impossible to track. The more people having TOR running , the safer our internet use will be.https://www.torproject.org/
Barack_Must_Go
Nov 20, 2011 5:59 AM CST
How secret could it be if WE are reading about this here ?

 
surveillance • Internet security • spying • Arab Spring

More Newser Stories

Syria Uses Skype Malware to Spy on Activists: Tech Firm

Supreme Court Takes on Govt. Surveillance Case

Syria: We Weren't Behind Houla Massacre

Jubilant Egyptians at Polls for Second Day

Syrian Violence Spills Into Lebanon
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment