Skip to main content

Israel’s controversial cyber surveillance gets three-week extension

A parliamentary subcommittee approved Israel's use of the phone-tracing technology through May 26.
A man checks on his phone the Moovit mobile transport application in the central Israeli city of Ness Ziona on May 4, 2020. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel’s security service has been given a three-week extension on its use of a controversial phone technology that critics say infringes upon civil liberties of Israeli citizens. 

As the coronavirus began to spread through Israel in March, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet bypassed approval of the parliament and signed off on the tracing of cellphones by the Shin Bet security agency. 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.