Vesper
ENESFRTR
Charts
Articles:SportsHealthHistoryTech
Middle East

Israeli cyber firm accused of targeting First Minister during election campaign

Scotland's First Minister has called for an investigation after evidence emerged that an Israeli cyber-intelligence firm allegedly targeted her official phone during the recent election campaign. Police Scotland and the Scottish Parliament have opened parallel inquiries. The firm denied the allegations and said its technology is licensed only to states.

Smartphone screen on a quiet desk under dim office light
Smartphone screen on a quiet desk under dim office lightPhoto: Jun Wai Chin / Pexels
BBC Middle East2 h ago
ShareWhatsAppTelegramLinkedIn

Forensic analysis of the official phone used by Scotland's First Minister in the weeks before the election found traces of software developed by Helix, an Israeli cyber-intelligence firm, according to a report published Monday by Toronto-based Citizen Lab. The First Minister described the alleged surveillance as a serious assault on Scotland's electoral freedom.

Police Scotland and the Scottish Parliament have opened two parallel inquiries. Helix said its products are sold only to states and only with the approval of Israel's Defence Ministry, and rejected the allegation of election interference. The UK Home Office said it was assessing the matter with MI5.

The case has revived debate over the export of Israeli cyber technologies. The European Commission plans to accelerate a previously tabled proposal to require detailed reporting of approved cyber-software sales. Israel's Foreign Ministry has not yet commented.

RegulationTechGeopoliticsMiddle EastBBC Middle East
Source: BBC Middle East
ShareWhatsAppTelegramLinkedIn
This article is an AI-curated summary of the original story published by BBC Middle East. The illustration is a stock photo by Jun Wai Chin from Pexels and is not from the original story.

Read next