NYN | News
A recent report by Yemeni cybersecurity expert Fahmi Al-Bahithi has sparked widespread controversy after revealing that mobile phone examination and analysis tools developed by an Israeli company were used by a government security agency in Hadhramaut Governorate, eastern Yemen.
In a Facebook post, the researcher stated that documents in his possession indicate the potential use of tools from the Israeli company Cellebrite in a case involving a journalist accused of publishing content on social media in the city of Mukalla.
He explained that these tools are among the most sensitive technologies, capable of full access to smartphone content, including messages, photos, and conversations. He stressed that using such tools without independent judicial oversight poses a direct threat to individuals’ rights to privacy and the protection of their personal data.
The researcher emphasized that Cellebrite is subject to strict export control regulations concerning dual-use technologies (EU Dual-Use Regulation), meaning that the use of its tools in conflict zones like Yemen violates international regulations related to human rights and data privacy.
He called on judicial authorities, represented by the Attorney General and the Supreme Judicial Council, to launch an independent investigation into the nature of the use of these tools. He also urged the Ministry of Interior of the internationally recognized Yemeni government to clarify whether it possesses official licenses from the Israeli company and what legal safeguards are in place to protect data during investigations.
He further questioned the mechanisms for data retention after examination, whether individuals have the right to object or be notified, and how many cases these technologies have been used in over the past three years.
The researcher concluded by calling on the internationally recognized Yemeni government to adopt a national data protection law that imposes strict controls on any digital examination or analysis processes. He warned that the unchecked use of digital surveillance tools threatens press freedom and civil rights in the country.
