Saifan and the Weaponization of Trade Secrets - Verfassungsblog – June 2023

In this post, we offer an overview of current Knesset discussions; the contested legal grounds on which the Israeli police and Ministry of Justice rely for spyware authorization; and an analysis of governmental procurement of surveillance technology, with particular emphasis on the weaponization of trade secrets to strategically conceal governmental operations.

Current public engagement has chiefly focused on the uncertain legal basis for the police’s enhanced surveillance capacities as a result of using spyware. However, this is not the only concern with the use of technologies as advanced and powerful as Saifan by public bodies. In particular, we argue that the current combination of outdated laws with nontransparent operations makes public accountability and oversight with regards to how such technology is used intensely and unduly difficult.

#Pegasus #NSO #spyware #surveillance #Knesset #Israel
#saifan