Digital mercenary sold spy equipment to Martinelli government.

PANAMA,  during the Matinelli administration, bought spy equipment from an Italian company that has been described as a “digital mercenary”  and that itself has been hacked leading to confidential client records  being published on the social network Twitter.

The company Hacking Team, revealed that Panama purchased its spy equipment between 2011 and 2014.
The information was released Sunday, July 5, ironically by hackers who disclosed confidential company information, including contracts with governments.The leak shows that Panama spent $750,000 in software for surveillance and cyber espionage.

The government also purchased over $13,4 million for equipment from an Israeli firm to intercept cell phone calls and other electronic communications that was used by the National Security Council. Two former Council members are in jail awaiting trial, and two staff members are fugitives being sought by Interpol.
The purchases from the Italian company were made by the Presidential Security Office, with it spending $680,000 in 2011, then smaller amounts during the next three years.

It is unclear how the equipment was used in Panama, but the equipment that was purchased allows users to convert hacked cell phones into microphones to eavesdrop on conversations and to intercept WhatsApp or Skype chats.
The technology has only been sold to governments, Hacking Team officials said.
The technology was also sold to other countries in Latin America, including Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Honduras.
Reporters Without Borders has said the Hacking Team is a “digital mercenary.”
Hacking Team spokesman Erick Rabe denied that his company has sold spy equipment to dictatorial governments  although sales have been recorded to countries like Sudan.
The human rights group Privacy International said in a statement that “Hacking Team provides tools of espionage to governments for illegally monitoring its citizens.”
The hacking has sent alarm systems going around the cyber world with companies like Adobe rushing to create “patches” to protect users.