A half-dozen governments in Central Asia and Latin American have purchased the System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM) wiretapping technology from Russian providers, expanding their — and potentially Russian intelligence's — ability to intercept communications
the former Soviet territories of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, and the Latin American nations of Cuba and Nicaragua, have very likely acquired the technology to wiretap citizens.
"Particularly, human rights defenders, activists, journalists, members of civil society, but also foreign travelers, [could all be targets]."
Overall, 41% of the 195 countries worldwide have licensed commercial spyware, including 14 of the 27 countries in the European Union, according to the Atlantic Council.
Western companies and citizens should take measures to protect their communications and to understand the risks of surveillance when traveling to countries that have lax civil protections against wiretapping, says a threat analyst with Recorded Future's Insikt threat intelligence group
1 comment