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The UAE really hates on activists, and appears to be hiring a bunch of people specifically to suppress activists/dissidents within the country. [1] Unfortunatel

The UAE really hates on activists, and appears to be hiring a bunch of people specifically to suppress activists/dissidents within the country. [1] Unfortunately, due to the amount of wealth the country has, it won't stop almost anybody from dealing with them unless Western sanctions are placed on the country, which are unlikely given the current geopolitical situation. https://www.evilsocket.net/2016/07/27/How-The-United-Arab-Emirates-Intelligence-Tried-to-Hire-me-to-Spy-on-its-People/ https://www.evilsocket.net/2016/07/27/How-The-United-Arab-Em...

0x0 10y ago
Don't forget the time they pushed an "update" for blackberries: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8161190.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8161190.stm
- walrus01 10y ago
  Don't forget that Etisalat is now the majority shareholder and pretty much runs PTCL, the incumbent/largest telephone and telecom company in Pakistan, either... PTCL is to Pakistan as Verizon, Frontier or Centurylink are to various regions of the US. It's the ILEC. Etisalat is not your friend. Etisalat has great marketing and is building GSM-based (LTE, etc) networks in many developing nations but it is no friend of an open internet or democratic institutions. Etisalat is the reason why in some places in the world if you try to run a VoIP to Phone system gateway, armed men with carbines will show up and ransack your offices and home. They will use their influence with whatever local government exists to "deal with" threats to their revenue and/or tax base. This has happened in Pakistan and the UAE.
  - micaksica 10y ago
    > armed men with carbines will show up and ransack your offices and home This is a solid reminder that in the end, your ability to use defensive technology does not actually decide who calls the shots. Power is still ultimately controlled by violence.
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Esau 10y ago
This is the problem with surveillance technologies: they frequently end up being used not just against enemies, but anyone who disagrees with the government or threatens the status quo. Sadly, this happens even in democratic "free" countries.
- mhurron 10y ago
  > not just against enemies, but anyone who disagrees with the government or threatens the status quo. Those are enemies of the state. What you consider enemies are not who everybody regards as enemies. That is why there is no such thing as allowing 'good guys' using these tools for good and preventing 'bad guys' using them for bad.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
S_Daedalus 10y ago
It's just sealing their fate somewhere down the line really, in a part of the world where people have famously good memories for wrongs committed against them. Like the Saudi's, they're fine while the world desperately needs them, and the day after they don't, they'll all be dead.

0x0 10y ago

Don't forget the time they pushed an "update" for blackberries: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8161190.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8161190.stm

walrus01 10y ago
Don't forget that Etisalat is now the majority shareholder and pretty much runs PTCL, the incumbent/largest telephone and telecom company in Pakistan, either... PTCL is to Pakistan as Verizon, Frontier or Centurylink are to various regions of the US. It's the ILEC. Etisalat is not your friend. Etisalat has great marketing and is building GSM-based (LTE, etc) networks in many developing nations but it is no friend of an open internet or democratic institutions. Etisalat is the reason why in some places in the world if you try to run a VoIP to Phone system gateway, armed men with carbines will show up and ransack your offices and home. They will use their influence with whatever local government exists to "deal with" threats to their revenue and/or tax base. This has happened in Pakistan and the UAE.
- micaksica 10y ago
  > armed men with carbines will show up and ransack your offices and home This is a solid reminder that in the end, your ability to use defensive technology does not actually decide who calls the shots. Power is still ultimately controlled by violence.

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Esau 10y ago

This is the problem with surveillance technologies: they frequently end up being used not just against enemies, but anyone who disagrees with the government or threatens the status quo. Sadly, this happens even in democratic "free" countries.

mhurron 10y ago
> not just against enemies, but anyone who disagrees with the government or threatens the status quo. Those are enemies of the state. What you consider enemies are not who everybody regards as enemies. That is why there is no such thing as allowing 'good guys' using these tools for good and preventing 'bad guys' using them for bad.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

S_Daedalus 10y ago

It's just sealing their fate somewhere down the line really, in a part of the world where people have famously good memories for wrongs committed against them. Like the Saudi's, they're fine while the world desperately needs them, and the day after they don't, they'll all be dead.