Spy Merchants l Al Jazeera Investigations

Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit enters the secretive world of the surveillance industry. Spy Merchants reveals for the first time how highly-invasive spyware, which can capture the electronic communications of a town, can be purchased in a 'grey market’ where regulations are ignored or bypassed. Mass surveillance equipment can then be sold onto authoritarian governments, criminals or even terrorists.
During a four-month undercover operation, an industry insider working for Al Jazeera filmed the negotiation of several illegal, multi-million dollar deals that breach international sanctions. The proposed deals include the supply of highly restricted surveillance equipment to Iran. The undercover operative also secured an extraordinary agreement to purchase powerful spyware with a company who said they didn’t care who was the end-user.
Vanity URL: www.aljazeera.com/spymerchants
Official URL: www.aljazeera.com/investigations /spy-merchants
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#AlJazeeraEnglish #Investigations #SpyMerchants

[@franciscoalarcon4197]

Haha they spied on the spy company 😂

[@ayabaki]

Fantastic work Aljazeera. I can see why the Saudis want you closed down.

[@kyliefarax4701]

Aljazera owns by Qatar haha who will Win??

[@texasray5237]

Hogwash! Al Jazeera is the voice of MI6 and the CIA. All of the super-rich gulf oil sheikdoms are close allies of Saudi Arabia and puppets of the NWO countries. Saudi Arabia loves Al Jazeera. But they may pretend otherwise.

[@MrZlaty]

@@texasray5237 I see sign of human intelligence right here, well done sir.

[@spyroo8876]

@@texasray5237 QATAR is not Puppet Like SAUD family,,, UAE,,, BAHRAIN,,, EGYPT..... QATAR is going going Through the Right direction. Don't you know About Israeli Lobby

[@g0dzilla_au]

@@MrZlaty b:bbq - +gg +g ha

[@oceanusdubois7518]

From this day forward I will never sit down with anyone anywhere and talk illegal business without a proper search of that person's entire person. Literally

[@hasnatsakib7223]

Haha... Indeed

[@rabbithare381]

Now we all agree with the mafia & drug lords paranoia.. In fact OSAMA trusted no one including journalists....

[@religionisapoison2413]

@@rabbithare381 Osama is a punk

[@rabbithare381]

@@religionisapoison2413 I know, he was one of the western countries punks whom they used & punked the entire world... Im glad you know...

[@religionisapoison2413]

@@rabbithare381 lmao we have a sympathizer on our hands

[@mahbubhassan7175]

After four years, still it contains the value of the investigation by Al Jazeera.

[@ayitian1]

It’s funny how half the world just want to live in peace while the other half wants to control others, but can’t control their selves 🤦🏾‍♂️!

[@sykes758]

Slavery, in it's varied forms, is becoming mainstream again. It's more profitable than government. Rogue doctors using patients as cash cows is a form of slavery.

[@juliusraben3526]

@@sykes758 uts allmost a new form of godwin xD slavery. But, with that doctors example, i am fearing you dont have the definition of slavery correct in the head. You will claim not, so were can i buy people to sell to doctors?

[@crs19191919]

@@juliusraben3526 America

[@ofnotandi]

Its excellent investigative journalism.

[@maxxsporty2596]

These guys are the best news out there they are catching corruption all over the world

[@heraldloshi1864]

Sad this is.Thanks Aljazeera,keep it up with the good work.

[@amandaelizabeth7943]

Thank you "James" for being brave and actually caring. I love you!

[@ahmadbakrizubir]

excellent investigation, bravo AJ!

[@meshybonehead7027]

this channel has the best investagory documentaries on youtube

[@mc1rgene751]

This sends chills down my spine. I knew that this was going on but I had no idea as to the depths. If there was ever in doubt in my mind that our ever move is being watched and recorded this certainly took care of that doubt.

[@olguiq1013]

MC1R Gene .. So with you

[@rohojuu8568]

Amazing investigation ,continues to educate the public (univers)keep up

[@pitchoraymond6646]

It's very funny how a TOP spy firm can be secretly recorded

[@religionisapoison2413]

Double and triple agents happen... Informants are very flip floppy and can be on your side one day and the next day they aren't.

[@juneribaldi7093]

WELL DONE Thank you

[@jeelanimunawar]

excellent investigation, bravo AJ!, good to know security issues and challenges IT security, It will help to focus more and more IT security.

[@rashidibrahimmohamed6771]

good work aljazera English investigation world has to do something about this guys we have seen

[@brianmcdougall3558]

Watched al jazeera fur ages now and love the way there journalists report on the facts after mostly doing all the investigating true life tv ...am glad we have the opportunity to get watch ......😉

[@danielhangan1]

The best documentary I've ever seen about spy techniques aside from the IT, software ones.

[@aronpop1447]

Daniel Hangan hey man can you forward me to those documentaries? I'm interested

[@mariamassey5468]

AL JAZEERA'S JOURNALISTS ARE HEROES ❤ ❤ ❤

[@MultiSciGeek]

Really good investigative journalism as always

[@detroit2africaradio631]

I agree

[@babonnell]

Jjuuyyyyyppoooo

[@nantongoeml4781]

Al jazeera always top in undercover documentaries

[@nnamdiclement299]

WOW!!! This is so revealing and scary

[@hamza8529]

thank you

[@rayenavar793]

Thanks for the great work. Keep it up!

[@KABUCHWA.]

enlightening

[@joannemercader9346]

I'm not sure this type of surveillance is not already being used in every country now. Seriously this helped my personal knowledge on how it works. It is and is not good at the same time

[@TheEarthHistorysConfusing]

It's been in use for decades behind closed doors, the public wasn't suppose to find out about this kind of behavior.

[@eilenekellogg7017]

It's got to be world wide in order to bring in the new world order!

[@markwoods1504]

Fantastic work , can you do a follow up report on this investigation ?

[@crs19191919]

The big question with an IMSI device is why do phones connect to this machine, are they made to do it? . It should be stopped from this point of view. but every government wants a back door to spy on its people it would seem

[@jujun6465]

Well done Aljazeera

[@themanhimself2348]

Am you people put your lives on the line to make such documentaries and just imagining what would have happened if JAMES was caught during the investigation. But thanks

[@richyearle007]

Man's Greed Knows No Bounds.This has and will be man's undoing and is inevitable.

[@factsdonthavefeelingsbeawa2953]

The IMSi Catcher... Is a more advanced system than what was used in WWII & Even in the tracking of Pablo Escobar in the 80s or 90s... The Germans used a van or sometimes multiple vans... where they would space out the vans to be a couple blocks apart... And then drive in a pattern... They would normally try to use 3 vans to do general sweeps... (I think, but I might be wrong on some of this info)... Where they would try to use triangulation to figure out a general area of where a German Enemy might be sending out messages via telegraphs, a long-distance message transmission system that uses visual or sound signals, such as Morse code. These vans usually had some sort of Antenna on top of their roof with someone riding in the back... listening for any signals... while also looking for any wires or antennas sticking out or near windows, on roof tops, on higher up spots such as church towers and other tall items such as trees, clothes lines, radio towers, etc... The technology of the time only allowed these vans to be able to track a signal of someone sending an active transmission. For instance if a person opened their brief case and ran the line & antenna out... but wasn't transmitting yet... such as in Morse Code... There wasn't any way to pick up where the person might be. But once the person started to tap a transmission... the message would send a signal through the device, into wire & out the antenna... into air-waves that the Signal Tracker Vans could be able to try to locate & track. The further away the vans with the signal trackers... the harder it was to intercept a signal. The Tracker system also worked on signal strength basis... So as they got closer to an out going and/or incoming transmission... the stronger the signal strength was detected. The signal wasn't strong enough to track an exact GPS location... and By using multiple vans... they could figure out where someone might be within a couple blocks at 1st... by narrowing down the signal strengths being picked up by 2 or more vans at a time... Eventually being able to narrow it down to the exact street... And then once on the right street... They could narrow it down to the exact house, building, or location the person transmissions are... based on how strong the signal is as they went down the street... and by moving the tracking antenna from one side of the vehicle to the other to narrow down the side of street... and because as they got closer the signal got stronger... and as they passed the place the signal began to decrease slowly... However this relied on... once again... Outgoing/Incoming Transmissions at the time of the tracker vans getting closer. This is what they used to track Pablo Escobar Cell phone transmissions... as they were able to narrow down to an area he was in... then down to a street he was on... and then while he was still talking on the phone... the van/truck/suv passed right by the exact place Escobar was in... As they watched the signal increase & then decrease... And they were also listening to his call at the same time... And were able to see him in the window talking on the phone as they approached when they came back... Then as they went into the place... Escobar jumped out the window onto the roof of the building beside his bedroom window... and apparently was §h0t just as he jumped out the window or shortly after. As for Escobar this might be closer to the 2nd Spy Device they discussed or even the 1st device or a combo of both... not 100% sure. (*Disclaimer: This may or may not be accurate. This is for educational purposes only. These are my personal thoughts & opinions only. Should not be taken as actual facts. Should not be relied upon for others personal thoughts/opinions/research/etc... Not liable in any way. For the Fake-chequers. Otherwise they delete my electronic type written letters, and/or ban me, and/or silence me, and/or do something with my life credit score... unless I write a disclaimer. So much for Free Speech & Freedoms of Thoughts. P.S. Make sure to do your own research in depth with citations & actual references to prove or disprove any of my above opinions. Again I may or may not be right and/or wrong about 1 or more or the whole thing written above)

[@jeanneelliott7243]

Amazing journalism !!! What to do? How do we fight evil? If only we could use this technology for the Good of the world. This would be a modern day miracle.

[@nicetrydick]

Having a cellphone is the equivalent of having the police watch you every move. You can't get rid of your phone though. Problem is how many foreign governments and others have access to you? And people say "well I have nothing to hide". But what happens when the government becomes blatantly tyrannical and they can hear and watch your every sound and move?

[@Lion-rf8xi]

You learn to have nothing to hide in other words you self censor out of fear and learn it's easier to comply. Who's going to say the emperor wears no clothes.

[@cbel888]

Surveillance company not knowing they are surveyed 😄😁😆😅🤣😂🙃

[@marknasri8076]

Takes balls to spy on a spy company don't they have any systems that can detect hidden cameras and stuff.

[@arhagamer2510]

They sell trust

[@obakengmompatimotshwakae3410]

My thoughts exactly

[@pravasrao9247]

“Tell a lie often enough, it becomes the truth”

[@ZNPRODUCTIONS]

Did anyone go to prison after this investigation? I doubt that

[@spyroo8876]

Forces always comes from USA,,Israel,, ISRAELI lobby...etc

[@sackeusiilonga2174]

Such a device will be inner peace for varsity students

[@Yukatoshi]

Why is it only the likes of Al Jazeera bothers to do ACTUAL journalism anymore? There guys put the UK media to utter shame.

[@afrobian1]

Funny that Italian guy sells spy products while he was being spied on LOL

[@nantongoeml4781]

😂😂😂😂

[@mimig7737]

Great work but the last statement Disturbing "when you sell a Tank yo Africa you don't have to worry about coming back"

[@dq2539]

journalism is neutrality.

[@satimesSAT]

There is nothing neutral in the world.

[@texasray5237]

Yeah right.

[@sihammer7942]

Unless I missed something, it seems to me that these companies are all willing to break the law because there's nothing being done about it when they do. If people involved in these illegal deals were routinely shot I'm sure there'd be less of them taking place. My point is, laws that aren't enforced get broken, that's what's happening to a certain extent, isn't it?

[@eilenekellogg7017]

It's supported by govt. And big corp!

[@TheMajorActual]

1:48 -- Says it with a straight face, as she sits at a MacBook...I literally LOL'd. Uncle Sugar thanks you for your cooperation, sweetie pie.

[@saraschetty9333]

They are so brave

[@waitforit6524]

Everyday we keep on uncovering more and more, but at the end of the what result, NOTHING just crickets chirping.

[@higgpigg4326]

This is no different than what FB,KZbin and Google do without disregard

[@ellyj5670]

I was horrified in East Berlin in '83 seeing cameras on buildings watching people who were afraid to look at you. Where we are now is a living nightmare.

[@rupokreza77]

Actually we know nothing behind the seen.

[@Nerdbasher11]

Secretly filming an intelligence company haha.. Al Jazeera is definitely one of my Fav media outlets at the moment.

[@user-mn2gt4ct3l]

I saw snowden and I clicked it

[@ogrebass8658]

Phone/computer making companies should now come up with dynamic IMSI assignment that changes on devices.. The imsi catcher will catch but make the info collected relatively useless

[@tjmarx]

The answer isn't trying to regulate who these products can and can't be sold to. The answer is to make these products illegal to produce, period. No government should spy on its people like this.

[@goodwifelucy5602]

Absolutely

[@relyounsy]

WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE TANK, THE TANK STAYS IN AFRICA!!! REALLY, REAAALLYY!!

[@lowinglok2002]

how come This company become much better than bbc and cnn.

[@shizoshizo5954]

1-massive budget 2-hire honest journalists 3-report what matters 4-ask more questions 5-more focus on objective journalism 6-avoid silly news

[@davidddavoudd9628]

+shizo shizo honest journalists? lol please stop with the Bullshit

[@petrofilmeurope]

Iran me here and Iran me there, I worked in Iran for six years, these people does not know anything about Iran. Thank you.

[@JasonJowett]

I wonder about this alot as an entrepreneur in the social media industry. Is a simple agent with a smart phone nearby all it takes to block and mimick persons via social media? Can a bot do it as well? In this case people can be kept single, or their marrages destroyed, in a soft power incursion where they're messages are blocked or even both parties mimicked in order to set up dates and create relationships. That's just the basic stuff, how about concerning complex business relationships and into industrial sabotage?

[@ost1272]

Its Ironic how a manufacturer of surveillance equipment cannot identify that he himself is being recorded on a camera by Al Jazeera.😂

[@obakengmompatimotshwakae3410]

Hahahha hahha ai spy being spied on

[@johnschmit6815]

Thank you for the report on Ipac interference on British politics. Now please release your report on Ipac practices in US.🐸

[@coojsta69]

I wonder why Italian companies are being targeted in this video

[@craftycriminalistwithms.z3053]

coojsta69 I thought the same, we all know Americans are doing the same thing, if not worse!

[@solargoldfish]

So these are dealers of spy technology, how didn't they realize you had spy cameras.

[@crs19191919]

I know right? They did say he was well known in the industry so they trusted him. And if the camera doesn't send a signal its not detected without a special camera that can see the spy cameras

[@gegoygegoy2971]

It's always the money, without conscience , 😱😱😱😱

[@Qasimumar86]

It sounds like a Hollywood movie

[@samwisegamgee289]

there is one comment that stands out for me,how al jazeera cannot control a spammer on their own site is beyond me,unless of course its done on purpose

[@teamhuman2]

used to be able to buy mz catchers on ebay

[@eilenekellogg7017]

Nothing we can do about it!

[@keithceekay9168]

l need that device how do l get one?

[@teksal13]

A tank or a 'black box'?

[@shubhamgupta1100]

With great technology comes great responsibilities.

[@texasray5237]

No. With great budgets comes great discretion.

[@hightea2546]

Those guys are enjoying them selves and making money all the time

[@mehedishahshawon5285]

A GOOD ADVICE, IMPLEMENTING SUBTITLE LIKE ENGLISH/BANGLA/HINDI/URDU AND SO SO WILL MAKE YOUR CHANNEL FAMOUS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE HELPED.

[@SandraCrockett]

Good investigation! The only criticism I could give is repeating yourself's many times over of what was stated already. That was annoying.

[@jaymfom6963]

The hunter being hunted! What an irony?

[@moinulfaisal8513]

How 'James' was filming it all??

[@therealtor-james2692]

manufacturing news to show Iran in bad light..How about export to USA? of course not because they have it and why is it wrong for Iran to have it? And for the Europeans countries that use it? and why its never abused because they are so morally upright as Turkey that they can't misuse..USA again with their NSA are allowed to use it!

[@alicedoors4826]

Great questions!....shame nobody (other than wikileaks) will challenge the west

[@raymondparsley7442]

Driving on the wrong side of the road is what's scary about Hong Kong and all lands where the English have left their tracks.. Sure glad the US and Canada did not follow suit.

[@fahadfaarax2414]

God guard james,cause I dont think he was sitting with those men masked.

[@sulimounsulimoun699]

Nice documatary but CEO of this issue is missing hope u know

[@bryanbritton744]

Shut up

[@testos2701]

Imperative, total system reset required! TOTAL REMOVAL OF THE ESTABLISHMENT THEY ARE ALL BOUGHT AND SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER! 😅🤣😂

[@higgpigg4326]

Why don't psychopaths mind their own business

[@richardmckenzie2823]

Constitution of the co-operative republic of Guyana 1980.

[@gracegisel7718]

Sssst. You're watched!

[@CARLIN4737]

The more i see. The more i hate.

[@gerardvaughan1847]

@46:- the guy hit the mark. It's the same move as school shootings v Gun control.

[@teksal13]

Gun control won't stop school shootings.

[@clonedmosquito]

IMSI device probably CLONE the nearest cellular network and piggy back on the signal

[@williamchamberlain2263]

Who's up for a Kickstarter? We could buy an Imsy-catcher and listen in to Washington DC and Westminster

[@craftycriminalistwithms.z3053]

William Chamberlain I’m in!

[@mraafi863]

Looks like Watch Dogs era has arrived

[@MrGBENINCASA]

It’s ok, everything’ll be fine. Get well, get spied.

[@drewbranch7700]

Something tells me the boss and the project manager may perhaps be neutralized. Falsifying documents in such a country,the gall of it all,I would be afraid to even entertain that.

[@MayurPanghaal]

Rip out the microphone from your phone and put a black tape over camera.If possible use older models like Nokia 3310.Use only the wired microphone and earphones for communication

[@zotopzaz]

its so sad for the future of democracy

[@ZombieDragQueen]

Anyone notice how they all go for sushi when having lunch? Is sushi a standard for business lunches?

[@MayurPanghaal]

Solution is simple......use Encryption.

[@limatoshi5845]

No one is to blame cause we all wanted a digital life so here it is enjoy it ☝️😁☝️

[@hristinatrajkovskatrajkovs74]

The whole world is so corrupted and neither country cannot enter in EU, they speak you must have precious not corruptive court system to be accepted in EU and NATO but they are so corrupted we are like children compare to them. So precious evidence how the world is working especially the rich countries.

[@sweetsour6350]

IT'S RIGHT IT IS SIMPLE ECONOMICS. BETTER THAN SELLING DRUGS.

[@angeliquedelgado6098]

Then shorten the 6 month "legal way" and you will circumvent a lot of the under the table deals.

[@gegoygegoy2971]

Very dangerous, they can do anything without you knowing you're being tag as target ,for anything 😀😀😀😱😱

[@sherji6551]

Isn't it possible that they were scammers and going to disappear after getting money from a client and that product was not spyware but a wifi router ?

[@bubbaole9036]

So why are you exposing this? Every government does it. THe manufacturer needs to sell their equipment and make money. If they don't sell others will sell so what's the point? Is it because it is going to South Sudan or Iran? Why don;t you stop the manufacturing of such equipment? Stop supporting this hypocrisy

[@kirstinetermansen7234]

I had it, Denmark.