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Sim card database hack: it’s time for answers

Web Foundation · February 20, 2015

Stop Watching Us Rally Against NSA Surveillance

 

Responding to the news that American and British spies hacked into Gemalto, a Netherlands sim card manufacturer, in a move that gave them unfettered access to billions of cellphones around the globe, Anne Jellema, the Chief Executive Officer of the World Wide Web Foundation, said:

“The news that US and UK spy agencies hacked the network of a Dutch company to steal encryption keys for billions of SIM cards is truly shocking. Possession of these keys would allow these agencies to access private calls, web browsing records and other online communications without any of the legal safeguards and processes in place to prevent abuses of power. This is yet another worrying sign that these agencies think they are above the law. Apart from its blatant disregard for multiple human rights, this foolish move undermines the security and future of the global mobile payments industry, which is estimated to be worth over $235bn globally. It also impacts countries and poorer individuals in the Global South disproportionately, where internet access is typically mobile based, and relied upon to trade and connect.

“It’s time for answers. The NSA and GCHQ, and the politicians responsible for their oversight, need to provide a full and frank disclosure as to why they hacked a private company, and one headquartered in an ally country. We also need to understand how these keys were used, and what judicial oversight and legal framework kept us safe from abuses. Urgent steps must be taken to prevent criminal networks from exploiting these vulnerabilities.”

You can stay updated on these development by joining the campaign at webwewant.org


Photo under creative commons licence by Vision Planet Media.

 

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  1. Helix Dickson Dzuwa

    March 18, 2015

    While I appreciate the programs you are offering, there is a lot of interest growing in my mind as to how can such programs trickle down to the poorest countries such as mine-Malawi and to the needy organizations such as Msozi Local Initiatives for Rural Development. I have seen there is a lot of impact in your programs.

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    1. Dillon Mann

      March 19, 2015

      Hi Helix - thanks for your comment. You might be interested in our Alliance for Affordable Internet project - see www.a4ai.org for more.

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