Chapter
Panama Used Surveillance Equipment to Violate Privacy
30:59 - 42:02 (11:02)
President Ricardo Martinelli's request for US-provided surveillance equipment in 2009 was used to violate the privacy of Panamanians and non-Panamanians, political opponents, magistrates, union leaders, and business competitors. Similar to Mexico in 2017, the equipment was part of a broader campaign aimed at human rights activists, political opposition movements, and journalists.
Clips
A State Department cable published by WikiLeaks reveals that Panama's president asked US diplomats for surveillance equipment to spy on political opponents.
30:59 - 37:51 (06:51)
Summary
A State Department cable published by WikiLeaks reveals that Panama's president asked US diplomats for surveillance equipment to spy on political opponents. The equipment was later used to violate the privacy of Panamanians and non-Panamanians, according to a legal affidavit, while researchers at Citizen Lab found that similar software was used in a campaign aimed at human rights activists, political opposition movements, and journalists in Mexico. This kind of software is in use in illegal ways for political suppression and oppression.
ChapterPanama Used Surveillance Equipment to Violate Privacy
EpisodeThe Sunday Read: 'The Battle for the World’s Most Powerful Cyberweapon'
PodcastThe Daily
The sale of sophisticated weapons and intelligence gear worth roughly $2 billion has led to the deployment of hacking tools on opposition figures, social activists, and journalists who conducted investigations against Orban.
37:51 - 42:02 (04:11)
Summary
The sale of sophisticated weapons and intelligence gear worth roughly $2 billion has led to the deployment of hacking tools on opposition figures, social activists, and journalists who conducted investigations against Orban. Israel first authorized the sale of the system to the UAE after the Mossad agents poisoned a senior Hamas operative in 2010.