The Angolan government has not responded to claims of using software to watch its citizens through mobile phones.
A Portuguese newspaper called Expresso first reported this story. This adds to earlier stories about fake social media accounts promoting propaganda.
From March to August 2023, several emails tricked Angolans into clicking on harmful web pages.
This is according to an investigation by Amnesty International and a research group called EIC.
These pages had Predator spyware, which can access phone data and turn on the camera and microphone.
Emails used in this trick looked like they came from real news sites. However, Amnesty International says there’s no evidence yet that anyone in Angola got spied on.
Documents from the investigation mentioned Angola in a meeting with Nexa, the company behind Predator.
Still, there’s no proof Angola actually used Nexa’s services. So far, the Angolan government has not confirmed or denied buying Predator.
Background
This situation puts a spotlight on issues of privacy and government surveillance. Concerns about spyware like Predator are not new.
They are part of a global conversation about how technology can infringe on privacy. In this case, Angola joins a list of countries facing scrutiny over potential citizen monitoring.
It’s worth noting that the claims are still under investigation. Amnesty International has not yet found concrete evidence.
This keeps the situation in a gray area, where it’s hard to draw definitive conclusions.
In historical context, Angola has faced various challenges since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975.
The latest allegations could add a new layer to the ongoing issues surrounding governance and civil liberties in the country.