Rights groups ask Israel to stop sales of phone hacking tool to Uganda

Human rights groups asked the Israeli Defence Ministry to stop permitting a company to sell its phone hacking tool to Uganda, claiming it is used for rights abuses, Haaretz reports.

According to the report, Israeli software company, Cellebrite, has sold its UFED phone-hacking software to the Ugandan police and security services.

International human rights groups signed on to the letter sent to the Defence Ministry against arms sales to human rights violators.

The Defence Ministry claims that there is tight and effective oversight of Israeli cyber products sold abroad, and that it puts human rights at the forefront when permitting the sale of cyber tools.

The company, Cellebrite, said its products were sold to Uganda’s police and security services to fight serious crime and terror.

READ: Israel’s State Comptroller to probe use of Pegasus to spy on citizens