According
to recent reports, Pakistani intelligence was trying to tap
international web traffic via underwater cables. Apparently, this could
give the country a digital espionage capacity to rival the United
States.
It is claimed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency hired third parties to acquire spying tool kits from abroad for domestic surveillance. The same reports claim that the agency sought access to tap data from “landing sites” passing through the country’s port city of Karachi. If succeeded, this would have effectively given it access to web traffic all over the world.
The country was known to negotiate with a European company two years ago to acquire the technology, but it is unknown whether the deal went through. The cables in question route data through various countries and regions – from Europe to Africa and all the way to south-east Asia, including traffic from North America and India.
It is suggested that the data collection sought in the agency’s proposal could rival some of the world’s most powerful surveillance programs (like those of the United States and the United Kingdom).
Back in June 2015, Pakistani rights campaigners and opposition lawmakers called for Islamabad to protect the privacy of its citizens after leaked documents revealed that the UK intelligence had obtained access to almost all of the Pakistani Internet users. The country is currently in the process of discussing its own cyber-crime law, which may threaten to curtail freedom of expression and privacy if not amended.
Finally, the local rights groups also expressed concern over a provision in the bill that allows the government to share collected data with foreign spy agencies, including the US NSA.
It is claimed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency hired third parties to acquire spying tool kits from abroad for domestic surveillance. The same reports claim that the agency sought access to tap data from “landing sites” passing through the country’s port city of Karachi. If succeeded, this would have effectively given it access to web traffic all over the world.
The country was known to negotiate with a European company two years ago to acquire the technology, but it is unknown whether the deal went through. The cables in question route data through various countries and regions – from Europe to Africa and all the way to south-east Asia, including traffic from North America and India.
It is suggested that the data collection sought in the agency’s proposal could rival some of the world’s most powerful surveillance programs (like those of the United States and the United Kingdom).
Back in June 2015, Pakistani rights campaigners and opposition lawmakers called for Islamabad to protect the privacy of its citizens after leaked documents revealed that the UK intelligence had obtained access to almost all of the Pakistani Internet users. The country is currently in the process of discussing its own cyber-crime law, which may threaten to curtail freedom of expression and privacy if not amended.
Finally, the local rights groups also expressed concern over a provision in the bill that allows the government to share collected data with foreign spy agencies, including the US NSA.
