A Move Forward Party (MFP) MP has also accused the federal government of using spy ware to monitor its critics, saying at least three invasive surveillance programmes had been procured and used between 2014 and 2022.
On the 3rd day of the censure debate which zeroed in on Perfect Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, MFP list-MP Phicharn Chaowapatanawong described the spyware as a weapon of war applied to “enemies of the Prayut regime”.
In addition to the Israeli Pegasus surveillance suite, which was brought to the attention from the public early this week, state agencies also acquired spyware from RCS Labs associated with Italy and the Bulgaria-based Circles developers, claimed Mr Phicharn.
He said software made by RCS Labs (formerly “Hacking Team”) was purchased by the Corrections Section in 2013 with regard to 286, 482 euros (11. 5 mil baht) plus annual management fees associated with 52, 000 pounds or 2 million baht and the army in 2014 just for 360, 000 pounds or 14. 4 million baht.
Meanwhile, the particular Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) purchased Circles’ applications to track mobile phones during 2015-2020, mentioned the MP.
Mr Phicharn’s allegations followed the discharge of a joint review earlier in the 7 days by the Thai NGO iLaw, Digital Achieve and Citizen Lab, a Canadian cybersecurity watchdog, which got found Pegasus spy ware present on private devices in 2020.
Those people targeted included notable leaders of mass pro-democracy protests calling for major political and economic reconstructs, as well as academics and human rights defenders who have publicly criticised the Thai government, according to the report.
Citing Resident Lab, Mr Phicharn said Circles spy ware was deployed by the Army’s Military Cleverness Command, the Internal Security Operations Centre (Isoc) and the NSB. Mr Phicharn said instead of using spyware in order to fight crimes such as terrorism or drugs trafficking, the government deployed it on experts ranging from academics in order to opposition MPs plus their aides.
“It is clear that Gen Prayut doesn’t just use these ‘weapons of war’, like Pegasus software, on the state’s enemies. It’s your pet who behaves like a cyber-criminal and turns them on his own individuals, ” he said.
“Don’t think this issue doesn’t concern you. It can be used to secret agent on anyone Style Prayut sees like a threat. Who knows, also your own phones might have been infected with Pegasus? ” he informed the House.
Deputy Defence Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Chaichan Changmongkol the other day denied all allegations that the government had used surveillance technology to spy for the public.