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The spy in your pocket

How surveillance software designed to track drug-dealers and terrorists is being used to spy on journalists, human rights activists and lawyers carrying out legitimate activities.

Anti-obesity campaigners in Mexico, human rights advocates in London, and friends of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi all claim they have been targeted by surveillance software normally used by law enforcement to track drug-dealers and terrorists. Assignment reveals compelling evidence that software is being used to track the work of journalists, activists and lawyers around the world. Paul Kenyon investigates the multi-billion pound 鈥渓awful surveillance鈥 industry.

Sophisticated software can allow hackers to remotely install spyware on their targets鈥 phones. This gives them access to everything on the devices 鈥 including encrypted messages 鈥 and even allows them to control the microphone and camera. So what are the options for those who are targeted and is there any way to control the development and use of commercially available software?

Presenter: Paul Kenyon
Producer: Joe Kent

(Photo: Electronic eye. Credit Valery Brozhinsky/Getty Images)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 28 Jul 2019 04:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 25 Jul 2019 12:32GMT
  • Thu 25 Jul 2019 17:06GMT
  • Thu 25 Jul 2019 21:06GMT
  • Fri 26 Jul 2019 01:32GMT
  • Sat 27 Jul 2019 15:06GMT
  • Sun 28 Jul 2019 04:32GMT

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