Last month, Pakistan’s security agencies were given the green light to listen in on citizens’ phone calls, intercept WhatsApp messages, and more. Additionally, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) recently completed a trial of a new firewall designed to control social media in the country. Although specific details about the software being used are unclear, it is reported that Pakistan is acquiring this technology from several companies around the world.
According to Surveillance Watch, a website that tracks data from surveillance companies and the countries using them, Pakistan is obtaining spyware and other tracking software from more than 15 companies. These companies are based in countries like the US, China, and even Israel.
Surveillance Watch features an interactive map that shows which countries are acquiring surveillance services from companies across the globe. The website’s About page describes it as a tool to expose the hidden connections within the surveillance industry. Founded by privacy advocates who have been personally affected by surveillance technology, Surveillance Watch aims to reveal the companies that profit from this industry, often at great risk to individuals’ lives.
On the website, Pakistan is listed under “Known Targets,” where you can see the names of each firm providing spyware technology to the country. Some of the most notorious companies include Israel’s Q Cyber Technologies SARL, the parent company of the NSO Group, which developed Pegasus, one of the most advanced hacking tools available. Other companies include Predator, Gamma Group, I-Soon, and many others.
These companies are providing Pakistan with various surveillance tools, such as facial recognition technology, spyware for smartphones, video surveillance, voice-to-text transcription for intercepted phone calls, deep packet inspection, and more. You can explore the details on the Surveillance Watch website.
