Overview
- Amnesty responded to a Lighthouse Reports investigation alleging First Wap covertly marketed an SS7-based tracker called Altamides to state and private clients.
- The probe cites a covert data archive and undercover interviews indicating founders from Europe operate the company from Indonesia to avoid stricter export controls.
- Investigators say the technology was deployed against human rights defenders, journalists, diplomats, businesspeople and politicians worldwide.
- Amnesty is pressing regulators to examine the allegation that a European telecommunications network facilitated the surveillance activity.
- First Wap told Lighthouse Reports it denies any illegal activity or human rights violations, while Amnesty says export-control failures enable such operations.