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Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#161

Post by sudosysgen »

rixed wrote: post #149
sudosysgen wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try to sell ransomware programs and sell support contracts and then see what happens. It is illegal to provide assistance in the commitance of a crime even if you're not the one that pulls the trigger.

If you sell it in accordance to your state regulations, I guess there will be no problem. Isn't that basically the same as selling weapons? (I would appreciate if no worker of the rank would accept to collaborate with manufacturing any form of weapons, but we are well past the point where lay people make their own mind about these things)

It's not the same as making and selling weapons. The key thing is that you're assisting the client in hitting that particular target.

How many states do you know where that's explicitly legal? The only one I know is Russia.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#162

Post by sharikone »

golemiprague wrote: post #77
sharikone wrote: post #64

For politicians in democracies citizens are potential voters, foreigners don't matter. It's still arguably better than dictatorships, where your citizens don't matter either, as long as you have a good police system. We act surprised when we notice such things but we shouldn't be, it is a mistake to apply the same standards that we, as the lucky citizens of "free countries" enjoy, to any other system of power. From a…

I don't think it is the job of Israel to decide who is going to use it and how. Do we even know what countries are using it for? in most cases it is unknown. I find it a bit disingenuous that people who got no problem trading with countries like China suddenly find one case where some other country misused eavesdropping and manage to slap "Israel" in the headline as if it is their responsibility and they are the main…

I an not so naive to think that the recent deals with the Gulf states and the thawing with SA are not related to these exports. We benefit from it. I am very conscious of the enormously disproportionate criticism and hate Israel gets in many circles and of course they slapped "Israel" in the headline in part for the ritual condemnation.

But two wrongs don't make a rights. It's despicable to export weapons, especially to dictatorships, no matter if you are Israel, China, Russia, Italy or Sweden (the last two being major weapon exporters but keeping themselves conveniently under the radar)

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#163

Post by WhyNotHugo »

bambax wrote: post #33

> The investigation by the Guardian and 16 other media organisations suggests widespread and continuing abuse of NSO’s hacking spyware, Pegasus, which the company insists is only intended for use against criminals and terrorists. (from the Guardian inquiry about the same topic). Every time we allow special laws or special tools to fight "terrorism" or "child abuse" or other evils that get people worked up, they end u…

Any organisation that claims to be defending people's interest needs to do so with completely transparency.

Otherwise we end up with the "who watches the watchmen" narrative over and over.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#164

Post by raxxorrax »

sharikone wrote: post #64

For politicians in democracies citizens are potential voters, foreigners don't matter. It's still arguably better than dictatorships, where your citizens don't matter either, as long as you have a good police system. We act surprised when we notice such things but we shouldn't be, it is a mistake to apply the same standards that we, as the lucky citizens of "free countries" enjoy, to any other system of power. From a…

Living in a region full of conflict might be an additional factor why regards to ethics may be of secondary concern.

But I am sure that governments of all countries might be interested because it is just a weapons race from their perspective. A race to the bottom again.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#165

Post by squarefoot »

SheinhardtWigCo wrote: post #150
squarefoot wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you get a government contract in this and similar fields, it usually comes with protection against most laws, no matter which ones are broken and where (see "Blackwater").

But these contracts are with foreign governments.

Unfortunately, under the table agreements are a thing, all it needs is all parties to have something to gain, and the media looking elsewhere.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#166

Post by zajio1am »

halotrope wrote: post #26

It would be really nice if I could own my phone to the point where I could install an outgoing firewall or harden the os to my abilities instead of blind trust into the diligent but not infallible vendor.

Pinephone?

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#167

Post by yebyen »

jdavis703 wrote: post #120
nyolfen wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

last may, i recall public health officials and figures coming forward to say that mass protests were acceptable because racism was a greater public health threat than covid. you can see a similar push for gun control using the same rhetoric taking shape

What health officers said is that 1st amendment rights supersede health orders. Perhaps you could link to a health officer or health order saying otherwise?

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/racism-pu...

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#168

Post by rStar »

NationalPark wrote: post #129
rStar wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

those health officials couldn't bring themselves to offend the protesters by pointing out that the protests were cesspools of shedding virus. even though the protests were cesspools of shedding virus.

Do you have any references for that? I’ve read a few informal attempts and nobody had compelling evidence that the protests caused increased transmission. Seems unlikely since they were outdoors, which is now known to be relatively safe right?

it only seems unlikely if you don't understand how covid works. covid-19 is an airborne illness that is passed through moisture between humans. humans radiate moisture when engaged in activities that increase heart rate. protest involve a lot of marching and yelling at each other, which, spread moisture through droplets, perspiration, breath etc. many protestors were mask averse, to put it mildly. so, no, not now known to be relatively safe right?

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#169

Post by cutemonster »

sudosysgen wrote: post #161
rixed wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you sell it in accordance to your state regulations, I guess there will be no problem. Isn't that basically the same as selling weapons? (I would appreciate if no worker of the rank would accept to collaborate with manufacturing any form of weapons, but we are well past the point where lay people make their own mind about these things)

It's not the same as making and selling weapons. The key thing is that you're assisting the client in hitting that particular target. How many states do you know where that's explicitly legal? The only one I know is Russia.

Maybe it's more comparable to selling torture equipment

(If, say, Saudi Arabia tracks down a journalist because of NSO, then, what might follow thereafter)

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#170

Post by Talanes »

MajorBee wrote: post #74
Talanes wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We do regulate body armor though.

I looked into this because I was intrigued, turns out convicted felons in the good ol' United States are not allowed to purchase/wear/own body armor [1] (barring explicit exceptions). I wonder what the rationale behind this federal law is. Does wearing/purchasing armor indicate that you, convicted felon, are simply up to no good once again? Is it one of those "you don't need ~~privacy~~ armor if you don't have anythi…

Because the state wants to make their ability to use force against rule-breakers as strong as possible. Some states even make the use of body armor while committing one crime it's own separate crime.
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