Telecom Data back to Forefront as Sehnaoui, Intelligence Bureau Bicker over Matter
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The cabinet is expected to tackle during its session on Tuesday the controversial request by the security agencies to obtain the text messages (sms) among the Lebanese, while Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui insisted on rejecting the issue, media reports said.
Ministerial sources ruled out in comments published in An Nahar newspaper that the matter would be discussed during the session held at the Grand Serail from out of the cabinet's agenda, expecting it to be tackled during another upcoming session.
Security sources justified the demands of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau, saying that the purpose behind it is to reveal those who were behind the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau Chief Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, who was killed on October 19 in a car bombing in the Ashrafieh district of Beirut.
“Not handing over the complete data would be considered as covering up for the murderer... Officials will be held responsible for that,” the source told the newspaper.
A security source told al-Liwaa daily that the assassins used text messages to communicate ahead of the murder of al-Hasan.
The source wondered if the privacy of the citizens is more important than safeguarding their lives.
Media reports said on Monday that the security agencies filed a request to obtain all the circulating text messages between the Lebanese that occurred two months before the assassination of al-Hasan.
The security agencies also extended their request to acquire the facebook and several internet passwords that the Lebanese use, under the pretext of “national security.”
However, the judicial authority, which is tasked with assessing the possibility of providing the security forces with the data, rejected the request submitted by the security agency.
The three-member authority stressed that the request clearly violates the constitution and law 140, which specifies the protection of communications data.
A high-ranking security source held Minister Sehnaoui responsible for the repercussions of not responding to the Intelligence Bureau's request.
“We have demanded the text messages that occurred across Lebanon two months before the assassination of al-Hasan but when our demand was faced with rejection we modified the request and demanded the circulating text messages in Beirut and Mount Lebanon,” the source told As Safir.
The source lashed out at Sehnaoui, saying “if they don't trust us they should someone else to do our job.”
The minister said on Monday that he referred the request to the cabinet's general secretariat along with his recommendation to “reject” it.
He told As Safir published on Tuesday that he can't approve such a move.
Meanwhile, al-Akhbar newspaper reported that the cabinet is expected to tackle the case of al-Mustaqbal MP Oqab Saqr, who admitted to carrying out a weapons delivery deal with the Syrian opposition.
The report said that several ministers will suggest lifting the parliamentary immunity off the MP.
The newspaper unveiled last week a taped conversation between Saqr and Abou Nehman, a “leader in the armed Syrian opposition”, who were carrying out an arms deal.
Abou Nehman requested 300 RPGs, 250,000 Russian bullets and 300 guns among other things to be delivered to Aazaz, Tal Refaat and Aleppo's countryside.
The two men then agree to, “as usual,” hand the weapons to Syrian opposition members that go by the names of Abou Baraa and Abou al-Nour.
04 December 2012, 08:52
37
to those worried about personal data, kindly note that all personal emails, passwords, ... (in short all internet related info) is already screened constantly by several countries across the globe.
you can rest assured that all mobile data related activities and content is also monitored.
believe me when I say: I know. it is my business.
so, to return to our subject, don't you find it trivial that our local security agencies are denied access to such information, especially for something like that?
04 December 2012, 09:30
25
the question is not if I am OK with this or not, rather it is a fact you need to live with: A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL YOUR INFORMATION IDIOT.
whether you like it or not.
as for your nice words.....
04 December 2012, 10:24
51
Geha I wonder what your job is, most probably secret services.
Who are these lots of people bi charafak enlighten us biiiii charafak!!! As usual kalam farigh with nothing to substantiate it! Privacy is KEY for all countries. You wanna talk about the US? The patriotic act? How was it passed? Did they ever say : ok since all people have now access so let's also have access?
PLEASE GET A BRAIN!!!!
04 December 2012, 10:26
11
Phil kiddo go back to school! Who said sahnaoui is deciding? They are 3 of them! He gives an opinion, a recommendation but decision is not his! GOT IT?
04 December 2012, 10:27
21
Rudes do me a favour and don't go down to their level. Just state facts. In case they are not convinced well we won't change it with insults :)
04 December 2012, 11:02
13
rest assured guys: soon the Syrian regime cronies in Lebanon will be out of office, and we will get into every single details of your murders, stealing our money, kidnappings, ...
you will be followed into the deepest hole you will hide in.
you thought you can do what you want and remain free?
you can gloat and shout now, but in the end you will be in jail where you deserve to be, and better off: you should be executed as traitors to Lebanon.
tomorrow is closer ....
04 December 2012, 11:31
13
Rifi advised today that the ISF never asked for passwords and email accounts,... as stated by the liar fpm minister of telecommunications.
this minister would be better off if he starts packing and run away.
04 December 2012, 20:13
01
yes benzona, when someone has nothing to hide they would have nothing to fear.
returning to reformist:
yes I am extremely well versed in these matters: over 35 years experience in IT :)
for your information, Huawei is banned in many countries across the globe for using their back doors listening to all data passing through their equipment. you can check this online, it is available in the public domain. thanks to sehnaoui, we do have Huawei switches and routers :)
moreover, alcatel, cisco and the lot also are installed here as well as the mobile equipment which have back doors too.
to make it worse: F5 load balancers are Israeli made equipment so are blue coat products.
and so many others. so our data is safe? you make me laugh.
04 December 2012, 11:47
12
ft
you are wrong.
I am talking about governments having access of all data through routers and switches back doors which are installed on any network.
those are not just hackers.
furthermore, how do you think the US virus was delivered t iran? go and check and you will learn that they included it into .... a software update :)
do you know at all what data is transferred from our computers?
04 December 2012, 15:33
21
Geha you are talking from a network engineer perspective dear.
You seem well versed on the topic but you are completely wrong when it comes to info hold by routers, they need to be correlated to many other systems that operators control otherwise data does not make sense ;)
The virus in Iran was delivered by hackers (CIA can be hackers you know? They are not nice guys ;))
Plus again ya batal! If they had all this already why would they ask? Heke to make an argument???
04 December 2012, 09:22
32
It's funny how you guys react and accuse the telecom minister. Read this : "The three-member authority stressed that the request clearly violates the constitution and law 140, which specifies the protection of communications data."
There is an authority and there is a LAW. Why all you guys want to be ABOVE the law!
Geha : waw now we trust you just because you asked us to! typical lebanese statement : "believe me guys it's my job" :) Oh my God! Go play somewhere else kiddo!
It's also my job geha to protect users' privacy, believe me!
04 December 2012, 09:28
12
obviously you guys d not know how to read:
with or without the LAW, people are already scrutinizing your data :)
you guys are pathetic in thinking you can hide such things in these days.
even china has access to your minute details through its installed switches and routers :)
you make me laugh with your comments. it shows your knowledge level.
04 December 2012, 10:28
31
Then ask them to give you access ;) w 7ej tesfo' 7ake 3al fade bring facts. Since you work in this field forward the data you have and if you don't have it (which is most probably the case) shut up and get a life!
04 December 2012, 10:01
23
I find it absolutely laughable when these morons advocate about data privacy.
When the US was hit on 911 they passed the patriots act which basically said if a law enforcement agency suspects you with anything they have full rights to wiretap all your communications, also it allowed them to profile and inspect the hell out of anyone boarding a plane for any reason and that's I'm a country that the Lebanese don't have the rights an American pet dog has.
But in Lebanon where we take our privacy of communication very seriously that our wireless network is hacked to hell and back by the Mossad but we refuse to provide access for law enforcement to do their job.
My advice to the great security men is to contact the Mossad and ask them for the data they would probably be more willing to assist than the criminals themselves.
04 December 2012, 10:09
31
Fomerlebaniiiiz, greetings :)
You said it and shot yourself in the foot : '... they PASSED the patriots act which basically...'
Pass an act in lebanon, have the law upgraded and then khalas we have a deal but DON'T BREAK THE LAWS.
This is all what we are asking :)
Thanks for your support, you made my point stronger ;)
04 December 2012, 11:40
12
it is obvious that if the security agencies want to ignore the laws it is not normal. enough with hezbis that ignore it. if they have to change the laws to do that then they should ask the parliament to reform it...
04 December 2012, 12:31
22
In civilized countries a COURT ORDER is required to access the personal communications of the SUSPECTS or VICTIMS. Here, our security service wants access to EVERY SMS on the entire Lebanese territory two months prior to Hassan's assassination. Later the request was modified to every SMS within Beirut and Mount Lebanon during the same Period. This cannot be acceptable to any party who cares about the integrity of the citizen.
Here's an example: if this request is granted, communication between two persons having an extramarital affair would be accessed and documented by someone in the security community. This is a gross breach of integrity, and sooner or later someone will be subject to blackmail.
Let's not go there. I want all those murders solved, but not at the expense of personal integrity.
04 December 2012, 14:06
21
You get my point and that's the important part, right? Maybe I should have used another example like business communications between two parties that would be very useful to a third party etc...
04 December 2012, 15:36
11
Jabal don't fight 3abas ma3oun they are not getting it. Slash transformed your argument into "your fingering your gf becoming public domain"!
They want a democracy yet they act and smell like a milichia :)
it's obvious! God may forgive them cos we never will!
04 December 2012, 17:10
11
Walla I didn't see Slash's argument. It has apparently been removed. And FT's post was removed as well. What did FT say in his post to offend anyone is beyond be.
04 December 2012, 14:37
01
"The source wondered if the privacy of the citizens is more important than safeguarding their lives."
This is the exact same argument that the "Islamic Resistance in Lebanon" uses regularly to keep it's foreign controlled arms, and then as in now it is a false argument.
