Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, reported on Thursday the Israeli cyber technology firm, Cellebrite, has supplied Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and various police units with their technology since at least 2012.
Cellebrite’s flagship product, UFED, assists law enforcement agencies in digital forensic work by enabling access to password-protected cell phones to duplicate the stored information, including photos, documents, text messages, call histories, and contacts.
Although the company, led by CEO Yossi Carmil, claims to sell its tools exclusively to police departments and security forces to combat serious crimes and terrorism, its hacking tools have reportedly found their way into organizations known for oppressing human rights activists, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Cellebrite’s clientele reportedly includes oppressive regimes that were or still are subject to sanctions, such as Belarus, China, Uganda, Venezuela, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion.
Controversy Surrounding Cybersecurity in Pakistan
Pakistan’s security forces have been criticized for serious human rights violations and freedom of expression. Following the introduction of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in 2016, Pakistan has seen a severe curtailment of online freedom of expression, particularly criticism of the government. This law permits strict online censorship without a court order and also allows the police to access information from locked devices without a court order.
PECA has reportedly been used to suppress freedom of expression while combating ‘fake news,’ cybercrime, and misinformation. In 2021, the law reportedly served as a basis for persecuting at least 23 Pakistani journalists for allegedly “slandering” the security forces, the justice system, and intelligence agencies.
Israeli lawyer Eitay Mack, who criticized Cellebrite and the Israeli Defense Ministry for their lack of oversight, noted that Pakistan is ruled by military and intelligence units that support international terrorist and criminal organizations. He expressed concern that Cellebrite’s systems could potentially be used to persecute not only women and religious minorities but also journalists and opposition activists striving to uncover the military’s ties with terrorist organizations.
In the face of these allegations, Cellebrite responded that they do not sell to Pakistan directly or indirectly. However, the company declined to explain how this claim aligns with evidence of their Singapore subsidiary’s shipment certificates to Pakistan and official tenders in Pakistan demonstrating the use of their technology.
*With Additional news input, Reporting from “Haaretz” by Oded Yaron”
