by Chronicle Editor
Israeli newspaper Haaretz has discovered the potential of the technology from Toka, a start-up founded by ex-Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The company website: “Business in Italy too”
Israeli start-up Toka provides Western governments with software capable of accessing all surveillance cameras, altering their real-time reality and even that of the “past” by fishing the images stored in digital storage and can be changed at will. All without leaving any potentially digital traces. It is Haaretz newspaper that, in a long investigation, uncovers how this software works – which would be the first in the world – developed by the company founded by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and former head of the cybernetics department of the Jewish Army Landes Yaron was founded Rosen.
The functionalities
According to the Israeli newspaper, the technology provided by “Toka” allows clients to break into the video surveillance system – of a government building, hotel, house – and even the webcams, simply by selecting the geographic area of interest. Once inside, it is possible to observe live what is happening in front of these video cameras, but also to intervene to show what you want to those who officially use these lenses. Not only. According to the documents Haaretz consulted, those using this software can also access the video archive, identify specific moments and modify them – both video and audio – to hide “intelligence activities” during “operations”.
Customers
The Israeli start-up’s program can also track a car’s movements in real time without anyone noticing. On its official website, Toka says the services are only offered to the armed forces, national security organizations, intelligence agencies and law enforcement “of the United States and its closest allies.” The Israeli newspaper’s customers are or were Israel, the USA, Germany, Australia and Singapore. But Italy also appears on the map provided by the start-up’s website, without giving any further details. Also on the list are Spain, Portugal, France, the United Kingdom, Greece and Canada.
criticisms
Some lawyers interviewed by Haaretz are sounding the alarm over the risk of a video being manipulated to frame innocent citizens, protect someone among the 007 from accusations, or for political reasons. Also on its website, Toka explains that the start-up “regularly reviews the selected list of countries, using external assessments on a range of issues such as civil liberties, the rule of law and corruption”. “We comply with and are regulated by the US Treasury Department and the Israel Defense Export Control Agency,” the company continues.
The “Pegasus” case
Israel — particularly the area north of Tel Aviv, the center of a security startup valley — is increasingly proving to be the country that produces the most advanced technology for 007s from around the world. The secret services of different states are still trying to stop the effects of “Pegasus”, the spyware that bypasses smartphone defenses by stealing photos, videos, movements, phone calls, passwords, call logs and posts published on social networks. The program can also activate your smartphone’s camera and microphone. But at the same time it tries to understand the impact of another spy software, also “Made in Israel” and called “Predator”.
12/25/2022 (Change 12/25/2022 | 3:19 p.m.)
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