When a massive leak of emails published earlier this month exposed the many governments that have employed the services of Italian spyware firm Hacking Team, Myanmar was conspicuously absent.
Turns out they were approached, and have had conversations about domestic surveillance since 2012, but no deal was reached.
The government was last in talks with the firm about “lawful interception” and “active IT intrusion” as recently as late last year, a report in the Irrawaddy revealed.
Email chains released by WikiLeaks refer to “other suppliers”, suggesting the authorities may have talked to alternative spyware providers.
In October, a spokesman for a firm claiming to act on behalf of the Ministry of Defence asked Hacking Team for “offensive” cell phone solutions.
Aung Lynn Thway, from Naypyidaw-based Naung Yoe Technologies, wrote: “We got your contact from ISS World Training [an international conference on electronic surveillance] in Czech where we visited with two colonels from Ministry of Defence, Myanmar.. MoD is interested in you offensive solution on mobile devices and request to contact HT on behalf of them.” [sic]
When contacted, however, Aung Lynn Thway said no deal took place and denied having an interest in intrusive technology.
The first emails date to 2012, when Hacking Team wrote of “potential deals” with countries including Myanmar.
“It is deeply worrying that Western tech companies are offering spyware to the Burmese military, in an election year where the authorities continue to arrest, monitor and harass democracy activists,” David Mathieson from Human Rights Watch told the Irrawaddy.
The Myanmar government could not be reached for comment.
Photo / Hacking Team
