When the extent of the NSA spying became known, there was also fear of how this power could be abused. Now three former intelligence hackers have confessed to doing just that.
Following the movements of citizens, following their messages and calls and collecting their data: at least since the Edward Snowden leak, the US secret service NSA has been the symbol of systematic state espionage. The resulting fear that the knowledge and tools could fall into the wrong hands was not unfounded, as a recent process in the USA shows. Three former secret service hackers are now being investigated there for espionage.
According to the US Department of Justice, Marc B., Ryan A. and Daniel G. are said to have hacked as part of a secret operation called “Project Raven” for the United Arab Emirates. Your target: human rights activists, journalists and critics of the regime. To do this, they are said to have used highly developed cyber weapons. The hacker tool Karma is said to have been able to take over iPhones without the victims’ knowledge. Some of the people they spied on were reportedly tortured as a result.
Espionage on behalf of the autocrats
The hackers who were formerly working for the NSA are now accused of selling secret military technology to another state and of breaking hacking laws in the United States, according to the report. Their undoing was that they had made the hacking tools classified as weapons available to the regime without having obtained the appropriate state permits. In addition, they are said to have attacked targets in the USA, which is rated as espionage on behalf of another state.
The three men confessed to the acts according to the allegations. It should be an attempt to prevent further investigations against them. As part of a deal with the authorities, they also agreed to pay a total of $ 1.69 million as a fine.
The project was discovered by a former employee. She initially also took part in the operation, but in 2019 she contacted the Reuters news agency to have the project exposed. As a result, there was also an official investigation. She is apparently satisfied with the current development. “The most important element in bringing this problem to the public eye was investigative journalism. The rapid reporting provided the necessary attention to allow justice to work,” she praised.
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