Pakistani Law Enforcement Agencies Accused of Using Israeli Mobile Hacking Tech for Surveillance

Recent revelations have sparked controversy over allegations that Pakistan's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FIA) and various police units have been using mobile phone hacking equipment from Israeli company Cellebrite for surveillance purposes. This development is particularly noteworthy given the absence of official diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Israel, which has led to the Pakistani passport bearing a notable exception to entry into Israel.

The primary tool in question is Cellebrite's flagship product, the Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED), which enables law enforcement to gain access to password-protected mobile phones, allowing them to retrieve various forms of digital information, including messages, images, documents, call records, and more. Cellebrite asserts that its technology is intended solely for use by law enforcement agencies in combating serious crime and terrorism.

The allegations, however, raise concerns about the misuse of such technology, especially considering Cellebrite's history of providing similar tools to entities known for human rights abuses. Previous clients have included countries with repressive regimes such as Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Uganda, Venezuela, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh's RAB assassination unit, Russia, and Ethiopia.

Critics of Pakistan's security forces claim they have a history of violating human rights and suppressing freedom of expression. Reports from the U.S. State Department in 2022 noted arbitrary or unlawful killings, torture, harsh prison conditions, arbitrary arrests, privacy violations, and restrictions on freedom of expression. A controversial cybercrime law introduced in 2016 has further curtailed online freedom, allowing for online censorship without a court order and warrantless collection of data from locked devices by the police.

Cellebrite's involvement in providing such technology to Pakistani law enforcement has raised ethical concerns. Critics argue that the equipment could be exploited to target not just criminals and terrorists, but also journalists, human rights activists, and opposition figures who aim to expose the military's connections with extremist organizations.

Cellebrite responded to the allegations by denying direct sales to Pakistan and emphasizing its commitment to law enforcement's use of its technology within the confines of proper investigations. The company pointed out that its mission is to support law enforcement in creating a safer world and bringing justice to victims of crime.

This controversy has reignited debates surrounding the ethics of selling surveillance technology to governments with questionable human rights records, as well as the role of international diplomacy and strategic interests in shaping such relationships. The allegations come at a time when discussions about potential warming of relations between Israel and Pakistan are gaining traction, despite historical tensions and lack of formal diplomatic ties.