Amnesty International [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8], in collaboration with various media outlets, has uncovered the use of spyware technology in Indonesia, raising concerns about human rights violations [3].
Description
Indonesian government bodies [1] [3] [4] [5] [6], including the National Police and the National Cyber and Encryption Agency [1] [2] [4] [5] [6] [8], have been using spyware technology imported from Israel [1] [6], Luxembourg [2] [6], and Malaysia between 2017 and 2023 [1] [2] [6]. Israeli-linked firms such as NSO [5], Candiru [3] [5], Wintego [3] [5] [6], and Intellexa have been selling invasive spyware to Indonesia through obscured vendors. Fake websites were used to target individuals [3], with some linked to Israeli firms [3]. Concerns about human rights violations have intensified [3], with the lack of regulation posing a significant risk to civil society. Amnesty International calls for a global ban on highly invasive spyware until proper regulatory frameworks are in place.
Conclusion
The use of spyware in Indonesia poses a threat to human rights, particularly freedom of expression [1] [8]. Amnesty International urges the Indonesian government to enact regulations to protect citizens from mass surveillance and intrusion [1]. The need for meaningful regulations to ban highly invasive spyware is emphasized to safeguard human rights in the country.
References
[1] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesias-murky-spyware-imports-raise-rights-fears-amnesty-4308336
[2] https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2024/05/02/indonesias-murky-spyware-imports-raise-concerns-about-privacy-rights-amnesty.html
[3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/3/israeli-firms-sold-invasive-surveillance-tech-to-indonesia-report
[4] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/indonesia-spyware-haven-amnesty/
[5] https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-firms-sold-invasive-surveillance-tech-indonesia
[6] https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2024/05/05/report-says-police-bssn-have-imported-spyware-since-2017.html
[7] https://en.tempo.co/read/1863228/amnesty-international-unveils-network-of-spyware-exports-in-indonesia
[8] https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/global-a-web-of-surveillance-unraveling-a-murky-network-of-spyware-exports-to-indonesia/
