MOSCOW, November 20 (Sputnik) – Amnesty International, in collaboration with other human rights organizations, unveiled on Thursday a new application that enables journalists and human rights defenders to scan their computers for governmental surveillance spyware.
“Detekt is a simple tool that will alert activists to such intrusions so they can take action. It represents a strike back against governments who are using information obtained through surveillance to arbitrarily detain, illegally arrest and even torture human rights defenders and journalists,” Head of Military, Security and Police at Amnesty International, Marek Marczynski said in a news release.
The application allows journalists and human rights advocates to check their devices for the presence of government–sponsored spyware. The most common types of spyware enable remote reading of email, and the ability to secretly activate cameras or microphones to record voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) conversations. Upon the identification of spyware, users are advised to disconnect their devices from the Internet and seek the assistance of Detect’s experts.
“Amnesty International will use its networks to help activists across the world learn about Detekt and scan their devices for signs of spyware. It will also engage in testing with its local partners and networks who are considered at high-risk of being targeted by such spyware,” the news release reads.
Detect was developed by security researcher and human rights advocate Claudio Guarnieri and launched by Amnesty International in collaboration with Digitale Gesellschaft, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Privacy International.
The rapid development of targeted surveillance technologies and their indiscriminate use by clandestine organizations within governments on human rights groups, journalists, and political opponents has increased dramatically. According to the Coalition Against Unlawful Surveillance Exports, global commerce in electronic espionage software approaches $5 billion annually.
