Israel requires Palestinian residents to open phone data to military
While the agency that manages residence permits, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, is closed, Israel has instructed Palestinians seeking to verify whether their permits to remain in Israel are still valid to download the app Al Munasiq, which grants the military access to their cellphone data. The app would allow the army to track the Palestinians' cellphone location, as well as access their notifications, downloaded and saved files, and the device's camera.
Writer: Nir Hasson
Publication: Haaretz
Update:
Following HaMoked’s petition to the High Court of Justice, the military amended the invasive terms of use of the mobile app.
You can read more about it here:
After writing repeatedly to the civil administration and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) to complain about the invasive terms and conditions, the Centre for the Defence of the Individual (HaMoked) petitioned the High Court of Justice arguing that the terms of use constitute a severe infringement of users’ right to privacy and dignity, were contrary to Israeli and international law, and required Palestinians to disclose information that could put them at risk. Shortly afterwards, COGAT announced the terms had been substantively changed. The HCJ dismissed the petition saying that HaMoKed should have waited longer for the govt’s response. HaMoked is now asking COGAT to clarify what information was extracted from the phone before the terms were changed and if it was transferred and to where.
http://www.hamoked.org/Document.aspx?dID=Updates2175
Writer: HaMoked
Publication: HaMoked
Publication date: 2020-06-02