Frightening new technology in the hands of state intelligence agencies has the ability to command any smart camera and even “alter feeds” to manipulate both its audio and visual data — including previous recordings, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.
The Big Brother-like software — used by the national intelligence agency Mossad — has been brokered to global states since 2018 by Toka, a former cyber chief in the Israel Defense Forces.
But only recently has the true power of this superior hacking tool been revealed.
Its top-secret clients have the “previously unattainable ability” to locate all security and web cameras within a given radius, with the ability to tap into the feeds to view, hack or even treat – including past recordings – at their discretion , the newspaper reported.
In particular, it can “transform untapped [Internet of things] Sensors in intelligence sources” in the interests of “intelligence and operational needs,” according to 2021 internal company documents obtained Haaretz.
Additionally, these tools make it easier for users to “detect and access security and smart cameras” that help assess a “target area.” There is another “access” technology known as “auto forensics and intelligence” that can also locate vehicles “wirelessly.”
The spy service – parts of which are bundled together as a package – also boasts of its ability to delete or alter footage in real time, describing the practice as “masking on-site activity” for “covert operations.”
“These are skills that were previously unthinkable,” said human rights attorney Alon Sapir. “From a human rights perspective, this is a dystopian technology. Its very existence raises serious questions.”
Sapir fears situations where the technology used by the government could be misused.
“One can imagine videos being manipulated to incriminate innocent citizens or to shield culprits close to the system, or even just manipulative editing for ideological or even political purposes if it falls into the wrong hands,” he said.
A company spokesman told Haaretz that “Toka implements a rigorous annual review and approval process, aligned with international indices of corruption, rule of law and civil liberties, and supported by external consultants with extensive and respected expertise in anti-corruption practices.”
The Toka representative added that its only customers are “the US and its closest allies… Toka does not sell to retail customers or individuals.”
“Under no circumstances will our company sell our products to countries or entities sanctioned by the US Treasury Department or disallowed by the Israeli Defense Export Control Agency – limiting our potential clientele to agencies in less than one-fifth of all countries in the world.”
Toka, which has offices in both Tel Aviv and Washington DC, has a planned “expansion of existing operations” in its host country, according to Haaretz.
