Avast ye scallywags! Brazil be makin' arrests fer spyin' on cellphones. Walk the plank, ye scurvy scoundrels!
2023-10-20
Arrr! The Brazilian landlubbers have clapped two scallywags in irons! They be accused of meddling with spy contraptions to snoop on mobile devices. Walk the plank, ye scurvy dogs!
In a hilarious twist of events, police in Brazil have conducted searches and made two arrests in an investigation targeting members of the country's intelligence agency who were suspected of using spy technology to track cellphones without proper authorization. The Brazilian Intelligence Agency, or ABIN, allegedly used GPS-based software to monitor the phones of former President Jair Bolsonaro's opponents, journalists, and lawmakers during his administration.The software in question, called FirstMile, was developed by an Israeli company called Cognyte. The alleged illegal use of this software was first reported by O Globo newspaper in March, although the source of their information was not disclosed. Unfortunately, the Federal Police declined to comment on the matter.
In response to these allegations, police arrested two individuals and executed 25 search warrants across various states in Brazil. The geolocation tool used by ABIN was said to have "repeatedly invaded" the country's telephone network and was purchased with public resources during the presidency of Michel Temer.
According to the Globo TV network, ABIN personnel used the tracking software over 30,000 times, with 1,800 instances targeting politicians, journalists, lawyers, and opponents of Bolsonaro's government. The Federal Police are investigating potential charges of invading someone else's computer device, criminal organization, and interception of communications without proper authorization.
This humorous turn of events highlights the misuse of technology and the potential abuses of power by intelligence agencies. It serves as a reminder that no one, not even pirates of the 17th century or modern-day intelligence agencies, is above the law.