14 DAY TRIAL // Investigators in an unnamed Western European country lost track of a suspected terrorist after Facebook-owned mobile messaging service WhatsApp issued a warning related to a potential hack.
A report from The Wall Street Journal reveals that the European law enforcement was given permission by the court to track the mobile phone of an Islamic State member who was believed to be planning a terror attack during the holidays.
The police then turned to Israel-based NSO Group, which sells hacking tools to governments across the world, seeking a spyware that eventually allowed them to plant a tracking app on the suspect’s device.
“We only had that one phone,” the investigators are quoted as saying. “We put all our efforts into using this product to see what he was doing, which mosque he was going to, who was talking to him, whether the group was spread in neighboring countries.”
WhatsApp: No spying allowed
A warning that WhatsApp issued in late October to a number of high-profile users, including journalists and politicians, warned of a potential hack on their devices.
“In May we stopped an attack where an advanced cyber actor exploited our video calling to install malware on user devices. There’s a possibility this phone number was impacted, and we want to make sure you know how to keep your mobile phone secure,” the warning read.
The suspected terrorist also received the warning, and they immediately turned off the phone, rendering the tracking solution useless, according to the police.
The investigators explain that they lost track with the suspect after the Facebook-owned company issued the warning, so they didn’t get the chance to arrest him or collect more information on the planned attack.
WhatsApp has already filed a lawsuit against NSO Group for WhatsApp hacks, but the Israeli company says its products are only sold to governments and law enforcement to investigate crimes. WhatsApp emphasized it doesn’t allow any spying or hacks aimed at its users.