Vietnam
1Byte is a Vietnam-based company operating a network of spyware apps and generating millions in revenue since at least 2016. One of these apps, TheTruthSpy, can discreetly upload your call logs, text messages, photos, browsing history, and real-time location data. 1Byte used fake American identities, forged passports, and manipulated financial systems to evade detection and process payments. A TechCrunch found that it is actively facilitating the secret surveillance of hundreds of thousands of Android users around the world. TechCrunch also identified at least least nine known near-identical spyware apps in TheTruthSpy’s network: Copy9, MxSpy, iSpyoo, SecondClone, TheSpyApp, ExactSpy, GuestSpy and FoneTracker, all of which operate just like TheTruthSpy but under different names.
Copy9, MxSpy, iSpyoo, SecondClone, TheSpyApp, ExactSpy, GuestSpy, FoneTracker
Sweden
4Intelligence AB is a manufacturer and provider of surveillance tools, produced primarily for intelligence agencies, law enforcement authorities, military units, and private security companies. Their IMSI/IMEI catchers are designed to collect essential identifiers, such as IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), from cellular devices operating on GSM, UMTS, LTE, and 5G networks. These systems are utilized for intelligence gathering and monitoring within the operational radius of the devices. In addition to IMSI catchers, the company offers a range of products, including RF detectors, WiFi monitoring, camouflaged video transmitters and recorders, vehicle geolocation systems, location based tracking and other interception technologies. In addition to Sweden, the company also has offices in Cyprus and Dubai, UAE.
India
The Advanced Application for Social Media Analytics (AASMA) is a social media surveillance tool developed by the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi, with funding from the Indian government. It is utilized by at least 40 government departments in India. AASMA can collect and analyze live data from platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, perform sentiment analysis, track user locations and devices, and send alerts to authorities based on predefined criteria. It is employed for purposes such as monitoring public sentiment, handling protests, and identifying influential users.
Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi)
Italy
Established in 1996 and headquartered in Italy, AREA (aka Area SpA) offers a range of surveillance tools that are primarily designed for law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The company markets monitoring systems engineered to intercept internet traffic and track individuals via GPS, as stated on its official website. The company established a presence in Oman to work with institutional clients in the country. AREA has also offered its surveillance technology to Syria, specifically providing internet and telephone wiretapping gear to the Syrian Telecom Establishment, which is suspected to have been used by Assad's secret service. AREA was also reportedly involved in exporting internet surveillance systems to Egypt, specifically to the Technical Research Department, an intelligence branch known for its role in political repression and human rights violations.
AREA Systems UK
Israel
Ability is a security firm based in Tel Aviv. The company develops and provides interception and decryption communication tools to security and intelligence agencies, military forces, police and homeland security services. Its surveillance capabilities include both passive and active interception of cellular communications across GSM, CDMA, UMTS, and LTE networks, as well as satellite communication interception for systems like Thuraya, Iridium, and VSAT. Ability also offers decryption tools to break encrypted communications and geolocation technologies for tracking cellular devices, and developed the Crosscan system, a portable IMSI catcher for tracking mobile devices. Its operations span across 50 countries worldwide. Ability cooperated with NSO Group on Pegasus and handled the network side of NSO’s operations. In 2015, it merged with Cambridge Capital Acquisition Corporation (aka Cambridge.)
NSO Group, Pegasus, Cambridge Capital Acquisition Corporation
United States
AccessData Group was a U.S.-based cybersecurity company that developed digital forensics investigation technology. The company created the Forensic Toolkit (FTK), which became an industry-standard tool for extracting and analyzing data from digital devices. The technology was used by law enforcement agencies worldwide, including in Nigeria, where it was employed alongside other forensic tools for extracting information from seized devices. AccessData's merger with Exterro created a powerful surveillance conglomerate. Their combined digital forensics and data extraction capabilities give law enforcement and government agencies unprecedented access to personal information, particularly given the company's two-decade history of developing tools that can crack passwords, decrypt files, and extract sensitive personal data from devices without user consent. AccessData's Forensic Toolkit (FTK) was also used by Botswana's Police Service Digital Forensics Laboratory alongside Cellebrite's UFED to conduct invasive searches of journalists' devices. The technology was deployed in the case of Oratile Dikologang, a digital editor, where police "successfully extracted" and "thoroughly analyzed" thousands of messages, contacts, images, audio files, videos, and social media accounts from his phone. When contacted by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) about this surveillance activity, AccessData and its parent company Exterro declined to respond to questions about their technology's use in Botswana's press freedom violations.
Exterro
United States
Acxiom is a data broker and marketing technology company headquartered in Conway, Arkansas. Known for its extensive data collection and analytics capabilities, Acxiom aggregates and processes vast amounts of personal information, including demographic details, purchasing behavior, online activity, real-time location, and more. This data is used to create detailed consumer profiles, which are then sold to a wide range of clients, including advertisers, marketers, financial institutions, government agencies and political organizations. In the U.S, the company has held contracts with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the State Department and other federal government agencies. In 2014, Acxiom acquired LiveRamp, integrating its services to enable cross-device tracking and data onboarding, which helps connect online and offline consumer data. This partnership allows Acxiom to extend its data reach, offering even more granular insights into consumer behavior and location data to a broader range of clients. In 2018, Acxiom claimed to have data on over 2.5 billion people in over 62 countries, including 68% of the global online population.
LiveRamp
China
Aegis is one of the products offered by Semptian, a Chinese company, designed to be installed inside phone and internet networks. It is used to secretly collect people’s email records, phone calls, messages, geolocation data, and web browsing histories.
Canada
Aeryon Labs, now part of FLIR Systems, is a provider of high-performance surveillance drones and related software. Its SkyRanger drone is designed for real-time aerial surveillance and has been integrated into policing platforms like the Microsoft Advanced Patrol Platform (MAPP). The SkyRanger provides law enforcement agencies with live video feeds during patrols and operations. The drone's features include high-resolution cameras, automatic license plate readers, and proximity sensors, all connected to cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure for data analysis and storage.
LIR Systems, Microsoft Azure
Spain
Agnitio, a company specializing in biometric identification and surveillance technologies, developed several advanced tools for security and surveillance applications. Through its flagship product, BATVOX, Agnitio’s technology can analyze and verify a person's identity based on their voice. It also provides facial recognition systems that can identify or verify individuals by analyzing facial features. Its primary clients include police, intelligence, military, and government organizations. It operates in at least 35 countries worldwide. In 2016, it was acquired by Nuance Communications, which itself was acquired by Microsoft in 2022.
BATVOX, Nuance Communications, Microsoft
Israel
Airobotics is an Israeli startup specializing in the development and operation of autonomous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The company offers fully automated solutions for data capture and analysis. Their drones, such as the Optimus system, are designed to perform a range of tasks including real-time aerial surveillance. These drones are capable of operating 24/7 without human intervention, designed for continuous surveillance and data collection. In 2022, it was acquired by US company Ondas Holdings, a provider of technology platforms that digitize industrial and government operations.
Ondas Holdings
Bulgaria
Almenta is a surveillance firm based in Bulgaria and run by Israeli operators, including CEO Ari Covitz. It develops Wi-Fi-based hacking tools, which it showcased at the Milipol homeland security conference. The company offers a product called WiNA-P, which enables a variety of attacks on smartphones by exploiting Wi-Fi networks. These attacks include delivering malware to extract data from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, and Skype, as well as phishing capabilities to steal login credentials through fake landing pages. Almenta also advertises an "Account Grabber" feature to identify iCloud or Android accounts by sending deceptive messages to targets. Alongside WiNA-P, Almenta promotes a product called “Observer,” which offers “worldwide geo location,” as described in a blurb on Milipol’s website. A brochure for “Observer” reveals that, with only a target’s mobile phone number, the device’s location can be pinpointed and displayed on a Google Maps interface. The company claims its tools can operate from up to 500 meters away and target as many as 50 devices simultaneously. Almenta's technology reportedly relies on tools from other Israeli surveillance firms, such as WiSpear and Jenovice, with costs for such systems starting at $1 million.
WiSpear, Jenovice
Ecuador
Alpheratz is a security and intelligence solutions distributor based in Quito, Ecuador. Founded in 2014, the company serves as a regional representative of surveillance tools, primarily working with Ecuadorian public institutions including the national police force, joint armed forces command, and the office of the prosecutor general. As a distributor, Alpheratz represents various international intelligence firms, including Israeli cyber intelligence companies that are part of Tal Dilian's Intellexa network, and acts as their representative in Ecuador. According to Intelligence Online, Alpheratz also represents other intelligence companies, including Sweden's MSAB, Canada's Magnet Forensics and Polish big data analytics specialist Datawalk. The company's full legal name is Soluciones Globales & Representaciones Alpheratz Cia. LTDA.
Intellexa
France
Amesys is a French company known for the sale of a program called Cerebro, capable of tracking the electronic communications of its targets, including email addresses and phone numbers. In 2007, it reportedly sold surveillance technology to Libya, which was used by the Gaddafi regime to arrest and torture critics of the regime. Former managers of Amesys went on to run Nexa Technologies, which, in 2014, sold an interception system to the Egyptian regime under the name Eagle. The system was used in connection with the detention and torture of political opponents of the Al-Sissi regime. Eagle was deployed and maintained by Amesys from 2007 to 2011. In 2021, executives of Amesys and Nexa Technologies were indicted for complicity in torture. The company rebranded to Advanced Middle East Systems and moved its operations to the United Arab Emirates.
Nexa Technologies, Eagle, Cerebro, Intellexa, Advanced Middle East Systems
United States
Anduril, a defense technology company headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, has developed an integrated suite of surveillance technologies centered around their core AI operating system called Lattice. This software platform serves as the "brain" behind their surveillance systems. The company's products include the Autonomous Surveillance Tower (AST) system, which has significant capabilities, such as detecting human presence from up to 2.8 kilometers away, operating continuously ("never sleeps, never blinks"), uses AI to autonomously detect, identify, and track "objects of interest" including humans and vehicles, and employs radar for movement detection and automated camera systems. The company has deployed 300 of these towers for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), primarily focusing on border surveillance operations. Anduril is also the developer of Wisp, an AI-enabled surveillance system that provides passive, full-motion, 360-degree wide-area imaging for automated surveillance.
OpenAI, Palantir
United States
Anomaly Six (A6) is a Virginia-based company founded in 2018 by two ex-military intelligence officers. The company claims to have the capability to track approximately 3 billion devices in real time through GPS data collected via smartphone apps. According to a report by The Intercept, their surveillance system operates by gathering location data through partnerships with "thousands" of apps using software development kits (SDKs). The company also claimed to have the capability to unmask and track intelligence agency (CIA and NSA) personnel during a pitch to Zignal Labs, a social media monitoring company. The company proposed a joint venture with Zignal Labs that would enable the U.S. government to conduct seamless surveillance operations on adversaries. Anomaly Six's capabilities are largely made possible through the advertising industry's data collection practices, highlighting the connection between commercial data brokers and surveillance techniques. U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) paid $589,500 to Anomaly Six in September 2020 for a "Commercial Telemetry Feed." The company's co-founder, Brendan Huff, previously managed Defense Department relationships of another U.S surveillance company called Babel Street.
Babel Street
Israel
AnyVision, an Israeli company with an international presence, is behind advanced tactical surveillance software used to monitor the movements of Palestinians. Their flagship facial recognition product, Better Tomorrow, is an automated watchlist alerting system that identifies persons of interest and their contact history in real-time. The company's CEO is a former operating partner at SoftBank's investment arm, which co-led a large fundraising round for the company alongside Eldridge, an American holding company headquartered in Connecticut. A few months after the extent of their surveillance systems were exposed in U.S schools, they rebranded to Oosto and resumed operations.
Better Tomorrow, PTS Sweden AB, Oosto, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, SightX
India
Appin was an Indian hack-for-hire company founded in 2003 by brothers Rajat and Anuj Khare, and involved in extensive surveillance activities. Operating through various subsidiaries including Appin Software Security Pvt. Ltd. and the Appin Security Group, the company positioned itself as a cybersecurity solutions provider. While publicly presenting itself as the "world's 4th largest Critical Infrastructure Security Solutions Company", the company was reportedly involved in hack-for-hire activities, including espionage and targeted surveillance. The company served a wide range of clients, including Israeli private detectives Aviram Halevi and Tamir Mor, who alone commissioned surveillance operations on dozens of targets. Appin has garnered attention for its aggressive legal campaign to suppress reporting about its past activities, most notably forcing Reuters to temporarily remove an investigative article through an Indian court order. The Association of Appin Training Centers, a successor organization, has pursued legal action against multiple media outlets to remove references to Appin's illegal hacking operations, though this effort has faced resistance from organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and DDoSecrets. The company's influence persists through numerous successor organizations, with former Appin employees establishing and operating their own firms that continue similar surveillance and hacking operations.
Appin Software Security Pvt. Ltd, Appin Security Group, The Association of Appin Training Centers
Switzerland
Led by Israeli entrepreneur Mati Kochavi, Asia Global Technologies (AGT) won a contract from the Abu Dhabi government in 2008 to create a “smart city” network of surveillance cameras, electronic fences and sensors that paid about $6 billion over seven years.
IoTA, Logic Industries, Falcon Eye, Advanced Integrated Systems
Israel
Assac Networks is an Israeli company that provides smartphone monitoring technologies. Its clients include other companies engaged in surveillance activities, such as Elbit Systems, Verint, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Their mobile surveillance technologies are used by law enforcement agencies in Mexico, Colombia, Canada, Spain, and Singapore, amongst other countries. The company was also awarded a government contract from one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, although it is not known which one, as well as in at least 3 countries in Africa. In 2022, the company announced a major strategic investment and acquisition by ASPIS Technologies, Inc.
Elbit Systems, Verint, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, ASPIS Technologies, Inc.
Israel
Ateros develops advanced wireless surveillance sensors to monitor Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth communications, creating detailed communication fingerprints of targets. It claims to service customers in the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. The products are primarily utilized for surveillance purposes by law enforcement, intelligence units, and at checkpoints and borders.
China
Autel Robotics, a Chinese drone manufacturer, is a producer of drones with capabilities such as high-resolution cameras, precise surveillance tools, and the ability to carry out military functions like shooting or carrying payloads. Autel drones have been widely deployed in various conflict zones. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) make extensive use of Autel drones. According to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, while they were initially deployed for surveillance and intelligence gathering, including for indoor operations, their use later expanded to include direct attacks on Palestinian civilians, including children, women, and the elderly. Autel drones are widely used by law enforcement agencies in the U.S, and have also been adopted by the British Army and UK police forces, including those in Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire. The company has a registered office in the UAE.
China
AuthenMetric is a Beijing-based facial recognition company and a contributor to China's AI-driven surveillance initiatives. Their capabilities include mass video surveillance projects with facial recognition, voice-recognition software, and comprehensive DNA collection programs. AuthenMetric's technology has been deployed at China's borders.
United States
Avathon, formerly known as SparkCognition, markets its Visual AI Advisor as a tool for real-time surveillance and monitoring, using existing CCTV infrastructure to track, analyze and predict behavior. SparkCognition has connections to controversial lobbying efforts, revealed in the scandal involving retired U.S General John Allen and his undisclosed financial ties to Qatar. Court filings revealed that Allen, while working with Qatari officials, sought to advance the interests of companies he was affiliated with, including SparkCognition. As a board member of SparkCognition, Allen reportedly used his position to promote the company's AI tools and services during his interactions with Qatari officials. SparkCognition's Visual AI Advisor is deployed across over 130,000 cameras in 16 countries. The company's SkyGrid technology is installed in over 78,000 registered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across more than 190 countries.
SparkCognition, SkyGrid, Visual AI Advisor
Canada
Avigilon, a subsidiary of Motorola Solutions, specializes in the design, development, and manufacture of advanced surveillance solutions that integrate artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Their products include high-definition cameras, video management software, and AI-powered analytics tools. One of the company's developments is the Avigilon Appearance Search technology, an AI-powered tool embedded in their Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software. This technology allows customers to search for individuals based on specific physical characteristics, such as hair and clothing color, gender, and age, effectively turning surveillance systems into tools for profiling. Avigilon's cameras are used in prisons, airports, schools and government facilities.
Motorola Solutions
Israel
Avnon Group is an Israeli firm that develops and distributes surveillance technologies through various subsidiaries, such as Bler and Tactic Lab. It's founded by Tomer Avnon, a former Israeli Navy SEAL. The company offers various tools for intelligence and law enforcement, like IMSI catchers and Wi-Fi sniffing equipment, to enable real-time mobile tracking and wireless communication interception. According to its official website, it operates in over 80 countries worldwide. Avnon has established partnerships with various countries in the SWANA region, including Morocco and several Gulf nations. The company also has a significant relationship with Egypt, where its subsidiary Bler sold its monitoring tools, specifically its Webint Center platform, to Egypt's Technical Research Department through intermediaries. Avnon sold social media-tracking software to Hungary, allowing the government to monitor online discourse and public opinion. The sale was approved by Israel's Defense Ministry. Related to Avnon Group is Synaptech Capital, the first Israeli-Emirati venture capital fund to invest in Israeli and Emirati startups - including ones that develop and distribute surveillance technologies. Synaptech Capital was co-founded by Tomer Avnon and Obediah Ayton, COO of The Private Investment Group.
Bler, Tactic Lab, HIVE 2040, Synaptech Capital
Sweden
Axis Communications, a Swedish company known for its network cameras and other surveillance solutions, has a presence in the United Arab Emirates and sells its products there. In 2014, Axis praised mandatory video surveillance in Dubai. In 2015, the company was acquired by Canon Inc. The company provided its technology to China's public security system and was frequently mentioned as a "recommended brand" in Chinese state surveillance procurement documents from 2012 to 2019.
Canon Inc.
United Kingdom
BAE, Britain’s biggest arms company, secretly sold mass surveillance technology to the governments of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Algeria and Morocco. Through its subsidiary, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, the company sells surveillances tool that can collect, catalogue and analyze millions of people’s electronic communications.
United States
BI Incorporated is a subsidiary of the GEO Group, a private prison company that operates more than a dozen for-profit immigrant detention centers nationwide on behalf of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in the United States. BI Incorporated operates the technology and manages the system for the U.S. government's Alternatives to Detention program. This program uses various surveillance tools to monitor migrants and asylum seekers awaiting their immigration proceedings. The surveillance technologies used in the Alternatives to Detention program include GPS-enabled ankle monitors, voice recognition technology, and a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial recognition software and geolocation for check-ins. The program's surveillance creates "digital enclaves" - areas with high concentrations of monitored migrants, effectively extending the border's reach into various U.S. cities and neighborhoods. According to The Guardian, "BI Incorporated operates the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP), a surveillance system launched in 2004 and pitched as a way to keep immigrants out of detention centers while they await a court hearing on their legal status. The U.S government pays BI hundreds of millions of dollars a year to run ISAP, and in 2020, the company signed a new five-year contract with ICE for nearly $2.2 billion." The company may be expanding its surveillance toolkit. In April, 2023, ICE announced it was pilot testing a facial recognition smartwatch as a potential addition to their e-monitoring systems.
Protocol Criminal Justice, The GEO Group
United States
Babel Street provides tools that analyzes and monitors social media and other online sources for law enforcement and intelligence purposes. Used by U.S Secret Service, it can scrape data from over 25 social media sites, translate over 200 languages, and set up geo-fences with customizable filtering options. The software can also survey sentiment geographically over time and import data to other surveillance platforms like Palantir. One of its flagship AI products, Babel X, is used by the U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to analyze the social media of U.S. citizens, refugees, and asylum seekers. Babel X can link social media posts to individuals' Social Security numbers, location data, and collect a wide range of other identifiers, including IP addresses, employment history, and unique advertising identifiers. CBP also uses Locate X, an add-on that includes smartphone location data, and has access to AdID information. Locate X can zoom into a specific location and display the movements of smartphones in that area. Each phone, represented by a red dot on the map, can be tracked individually. The tool can show the path a specific device has taken, including stops at various locations. Babel Street's acquisitions include intelligence company Vertical Knowledge in 2024, Rosette, a text analytics platform, in 2022, and Dunami, a social media intelligence company, in 2020. Its board of advisers includes Robert Ashley, ex-director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Vertical Knowledge, Rosette, Dunami
Iraq
The Balgh (بلغ - meaning "report" in Arabic) platform, launched by Iraq's Ministry of Interior in January 2023, is a digital tool designed to allow citizens to report social media content deemed to "violate public morals" or "undermine social stability." Within just over a month of its launch, the platform received over 96,000 reports, resulting in prosecutions and prison sentences for individuals accused of publishing content deemed critical or offensive, including creators of music and comedy. In a statement co-signed by the nonprofit INSM for Digital Rights in Iraq on January 2025, marking two years since the launch of Balgh, human rights organizations highlighted how the platform has enabled a pervasive culture of widespread surveillance and fear online. It has encouraged individuals to monitor and report one another to the Iraqi authorities, leading to arrests and interrogations.
Bahrain
BeAware, Bahrain's COVID-19 contact tracing app, was utilized as a mass surveillance tool. The app collect excessive data, including real-time GPS location, and can easily identify users based on their account ID. Location data and other diagnostic information from the Bluetooth bracelet connected to the BeAware Bahrain app are regularly transmitted to a central server.
United States
Founded in 2002, Belkasoft is a company that operates a suite of tools that assist law enforcement in uncovering and analyzing data from computers, mobile devices, and cloud services. It counts amongst its customers the U.S Army, U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S Secret Service, various police departments and intelligence agencies across Europe, Canada, the UK, and Asia.
India
BellTroX InfoTech Services is an Indian IT firm offered its hacking services to help clients spy on more than 10,000 email accounts over a period of seven years. A cache of data reviewed by Reuters provides insight into the operation, detailing tens of thousands of malicious messages designed to trick victims into giving up their passwords that were sent by BellTroX between 2013 and 2020. The data was supplied on condition of anonymity by online service providers used by the hackers after Reuters alerted the firms to unusual patterns of activity on their platforms. Citizen Lab revealed in an investgiation that Dark Basin is a hack-for-hire organization linked to BellTroX. Their report also noted that Dark Basin is the group behind the phishing of organizations working on net neutrality advocacy, uncovered by a report by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
CyberRoot International Ltd, CyberRoot Risk Advisory Private Ltd, BellTroX Infotech Services Private Ltd, Dark Basin
United States
Berico Technologies provided analytics solutions and surveillance technologies for government clients, including social media analysis for intelligence purposes. Patrick Ryan, who worked at Berico as a data mining expert, was involved in a proposal aimed at implementing real-time surveillance of politically active individuals and groups in the USA. In partnership with Palantir Technologies and HBGary Federal, the proposal would have included spying on the families of prominent Democratic activists and planting fabricated documents within labor unions to undermine their credibility. Novetta, Inc., a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, acquired Berico Technologies in November 2018 for an undisclosed sum. Novetta was then acquired by Accenture Federal in 2021.
Novetta, Inc., Accenture, HBGary Federal, Palantir, Dataminr
United States
Berla is a Maryland-based company that develops vehicle forensics products, with its primary tool, Project iVe, allowing law enforcement to extract and analyze vast amounts of data from vehicles. This includes vehicle-generated information such as GPS logs, door activity, and even data from connected devices like smartphones via Bluetooth or USB. Berla collaborates with automobile manufacturers and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ensuring law enforcement has access to vehicle data while bypassing smartphone encryption. The company claims its technology can access data from over 6,700 car models globally.
Cellebrite
Israel
Better Tomorrow is an advanced Tactical Surveillance System (T.S.S) designed for real-time face recognition. It employs deep learning algorithms to identify, track, and recognize individuals of interest in any environment and at any moment. The system can simultaneously analyze multiple live video feeds from different sources, including CCTV cameras, wearable devices, and mobile cameras. Better Tomorrow is a product by AnyVision (rebranded to Oosto), which uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to transform passive security cameras into proactive surveillance systems.
AnyVision, Oosto
Turkey
Bilgi Teknoloji Tasarım (BTT) is a Turkish spyware manufacturer that also facilitates surveillance technology sales, often employing deceptive practices to bypass export restrictions. According to an Al Jazeera investigation, BTT's co-founder, Alper Tosun, proposed using the "dual-use" ruse to market surveillance equipment as benign telecom tools. This tactic allowed BTT to sidestep international regulations and sell powerful interception tools, such as IMSI-catchers, to repressive regimes. BTT's controversial history includes its exposure in the 2015 Hacking Team leaks, which revealed its intermediary role in supplying surveillance software to Bangladesh's National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC). Following these revelations, BTT underwent significant transformations. It was acquired in 2017 by the Emirati firm B Research and Development but later ceased operations. However, its spyware and surveillance activities continued through corporate rebranding and restructuring. In 2022, BTT reemerged as Ikon Arge Teknoloji, a Turkish-Singaporean entity with ties to Southeast Asia. Ikon inherited BTT's expertise and staff, including its former R&D chief Alper Tosun, before his "retirement." Officially, Ikon focuses on software R&D, including drone technology, and serves Turkish government agencies like TUBITAK while maintaining a presence in Southeast Asia through its Singapore branch. Despite its claims of working in sectors like banking, Ikon's history and connections suggest a continued involvement in surveillance technologies. Lam Chee Loong is a key figure in BTT's Singapore operations.
DarkBlue, B Research and Development, Ikon Arge Teknoloji, Hacking Team
Israel
Led by Eylon Ben Yaakov and Daniel Shapiro, both formerly of IT security research start-up KayHut, the company provides a range of digital surveillance tools and has secured cyber offensive contracts with Israeli intelligence services. Additionally, Bindecy advanced its capabilities by acquiring intellectual property from the former Israeli spyware firm Merlinx (which supplied its tools to Bangladesh's intelligence service, via Israeli-PC integrator Prelysis.)
Epsilon, Merlinx, KayHut
Israel
Black Cube is a private intelligence agency based in Israel, specializing in providing intelligence and investigative services to a wide range of clients. The agency was founded by former Israeli intelligence officers, with offices in London and Madrid. Black Cube is known for conducting corporate espionage, intelligence gathering, and investigations on behalf of corporations, governments, and high-profile individuals worldwide. Its clients include Harvey Weinstein and Trump. It was banned by Meta for its surveillance activities on its platforms. Its international advisory board included Meir Dagan, former head of Mossad, and Yohanan Danino, former Israeli Police Commissioner, as well as Major General Giora Eiland, former head of the Israeli National Security Council, and who headed the IDF's Operation Branch. Former NSO CEO Shalev Hulio admitted to hiring Black Cube at in at least one situation in Cyprus.
NICE Systems, NSO Group, Pegasus
United Arab Emirates
Led by Israeli intelligence veterans, Black Wall Global is an entity based in Dubai that serves as a back-channel for Arab countries seeking to procure and deploy Israeli surveillance technologies. This includes technologies developed by Israeli companies like Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems, and others, specifically to obtain access to advanced surveillance drones and systems for intelligence gathering.
United States
BlackBag Technologies develops digital forensic and incident response software for analyzing traditional device data for Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android devices. It was acquired by Cellebrite, the Israeli company which works with police departments and government agencies to unlock phones for data-scraping purposes. It's funded by In-Q-Tel, which is a CIA-owned investment firm that supports U.S intelligence capabilities.
Acquired by Cellebrite
Israel
Bler is an Israeli company founded by Efim Lerner and Uri Boros. It develops a range of surveillance tools, such as a GTM platform designed for in-depth analysis of social media profiles and interactions. Bler's Webint Center platform provides capabilities such as the geolocation of targets through social media metadata, avatar management systems, and Dark Web monitoring extensions. This platform was supplied to Egypt's Technical Research Department (TRD) via Singapore-based CloudCode and Ukrainian partner Cyberio. Bler also developed an interception and social network monitoring system and utilizes IMSI catchers in its operations. This system, when associated with an IMSI catcher or a WiFi interceptor, can reconstruct the profile of smartphone users within a 600-meter radius. The company operates as a subsidiary of Avnon Group.
CloudCode, Cyberio
United Kingdom
Blighter Surveillance Systems develops electronic-scanning (e-scan) radar and surveillance technologies for border control and military applications. Their products include the B422 LR Border Surveillance System, which offers 360° e-scan coverage and long-range detection of individuals up to 15 km, and the Lightweight Mobile E-Scan Radar. These systems are accompanied by software solutions like the C2 Radar Command & Control Software, which integrates radar data for advanced target tracking. Their surveillance technologies are deployed in over 35 countries, often sold through subsidiaries. Blighter also has a strategic partnership with Trust International Group (TIG), a key player in the UAE’s defense and intelligence sector under the Royal Group, led by Tahnoon bin Zayed, the son of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan ( the founder of the UAE), and who has served as the country's National Security Advisor since 2016.
Trust International Group
United States
Blue Coat Devices capable of filtering, censorship, and surveillance were being used around the world. In 2013, Citizen Lab uncovered 61 Blue Coat ProxySG devices and 316 Blue Coat PacketShaper appliances, devices with specific functionality permitting filtering, censorship, and surveillance. In Syria, Deep Packet Inspection products developed by Blue Coat made it possible for the regime to spy on dissidents and netizens throughout the country, and to arrest and torture them. Blue Coat was acquired by Symantec Corporation in 2016. After the acquisition, some of Blue Coat's products and technologies were integrated into Symantec's portfolio, then sold to Broadcom in 2019. The company was known as CacheFlow until 2002.
CacheFlow, Symantic, Broadcom
Singapore
Blue Ocean is an offensive cyber firm headquartered in Singapore and with offices in Tel Aviv, Israel. The company, founded in 2017 by retired Brigadier General Rami Ben-Ephraim and Lieutenant Colonel Ron Tira, both former high-ranking Israeli Air Force officers, develops spyware for intelligence gathering. It is also involved in training and developing local surveillance expertise in the funding countries. Towards the end of his military service, Ben-Afriam served as a military attaché for the IDF and the Ministry of Defense in several countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore, Thailand, and New Zealand. Singapore's Ministry of Defense has contracted Blue Ocean to supply a team of researchers, a role previously filled by Israeli spyware developer Candiru, while Sweden has become the firm's primary European client, according to Intelligence Online. The company's CEO, Avi Rosen, was previously the former CEO of Kamira, a cyber company established by NSO founders Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie. Retired General Giora Eiland, known for his role on the board of private investigation firm Black Cube (whose clients include Harvey Weinstein and Trump), serves on Blue Ocean's board. The company has special security approval, giving it economic immunity. Unlike other Israeli spyware firms facing export controls and U.S. restrictions, it has secured significant investments and operates internationally with less scrutiny.
Black Cube, Kamira, NSO Group
Israel
A facial recognition app used by Israeli soldiers at temporary checkpoints to capture photos of Palestinians’ faces and match them to database images, or upload them to biometric databases.
Wolf Pack, Red Wolf, White Wolf
Israel
Bluehawk CI is an Israel-based firm that reportedly offers a range of cyber intelligence and surveillance tools and services, including spyware and hacking tools. Like similar firms, Bluehawk CI markets its services to government agencies, law enforcement, and intelligence organizations. According to the Daily Beast, the company was founded by Guy Klisman, a former Israeli military intelligence officer, and describes itself as an intelligence firm staffed by “alumni from special units in the Israeli intelligence community.” The firm was used to dig up information on people with lawsuits against the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
United States
Boldend, founded in 2017 by Jon Miller and based in San Diego, is a cybersecurity startup. It stays out of the spotlight and calls itself a "SaaS Next-Generation Defense Contractor." The company creates tools for cyber warfare, with an emphasis on automation and advanced intelligence activities. Boldend's tools have reportedly been able to exploit WhatsApp's security to install malicious software on target devices. Its products include Origen, described as an "all-in-one malware platform" that enables the creation of malware for multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, and Android. It is designed to hack into devices and extract data. Additionally, Boldend has developed other tools and platforms for surveillance purposes, such as Kevlar (implant analysis), Hedgemaze (traffic obfuscation), and Cricket (Wi-Fi attack hardware). Boldend has primarily worked with government entities, including various branches of the U.S. government. In August, 2024, it was acquired by SIXGEN, a cybersecurity company.
SIXGEN
Germany
Bosch, a German engineering giant, has been criticized for the global use of its surveillance technologies in monitoring activities. Between 2016 and 2018, Bosch supplied approximately 8,000 CCTV cameras to Iran during a period when Western companies were allowed to engage in business with the country. These cameras have reportedly been integrated into Iran's surveillance network, enabling authorities to monitor and penalize women defying the country's mandatory hijab laws. Activists claim these devices are used to track individuals and suppress protests by identifying gatherings in public spaces. Bosch employs AI-enabled video analytics to monitor and analyze activities in real time. Its cameras feature Intelligent Video Analytics Pro (IVA Pro) for tasks like perimeter detection, object tracking, and automated responses. The company has sold its Building Technologies division, which includes video systems, access and intrusion tools, and communication technologies, to Triton Partners, a private equity firm headquartered in Luxembourg. Bosch operates a Chinese venture capital arm called Boyuan Capital.
Triton Partners, Boyuan Capital
Iran
BouldSpy is an Android surveillanceware that has been attributed with moderate confidence to the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA). According to Lookout, a cybersecurity company, the malware has been used to spy on over 300 individuals belonging to minority groups, including Iranian Kurds, Baluchis, Azeris, and Armenian Christian groups. It is likely installed by FARAJA using physical access to victim devices, supposedly obtained during detention. The spyware performs its malicious activities in the background, by abusing Android accessibility services, when the user opens one of the targeted applications or when the device is booted or rebooted. BouldSpy harvests sensitive data such as account usernames, browser data, call logs, clipboard content, contact lists, device information, and SMS messages. It also enables operators to record phone calls, take photos using the phone’s camera, log keystrokes, get device location, record audio, and take screenshots. The malware can receive commands via C&C web traffic and via SMS messages.
Israel
BriefCam is a leading provider of Video Content Analytics (VCA) solutions, using artificial intelligence and machine learning to extract detailed insights from video surveillance footage. Their technology enables customers to rapidly review, search, and analyze hours of video in minutes, identifying objects, events, and patterns with high precision. BriefCam’s capabilities include real-time alerting, multi-camera search, and video summarization. BriefCam’s technology is primarily used by law enforcement and government agencies, as well as for "smart city" initiatives. In 2018, Canon completed its acquisition of BriefCam. The company’s partners include other surveillance entities such as Cognyte, Axis Communications, Pelco and IndigoVision.
Canon, Rimage, Milestone, Cognyte, Axis Communications, Pelco, IndigoVision, Moro Hub, CamTrace
Kazakhstan
Butterfly Effect, a spin-off from the Kazakh tech group Kazdream, specializes in telephone interception and open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools. The firm is actively expanding its international presence, establishing a representation bureau in Dubai to target public sector contracts in the Middle East. To facilitate this, its chief commercial officer, Rinata Ilyubayeva, has been engaging with major regional players like the UAE's surveillance powerhouse Group 42 (G42) and Edge Group's subsidiaries, Sign4l and Beacon Red, at events such as the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX). In 2022, it launched a new intercepted data analytics platform named Triton, designed to complement its existing telephone interception and open-source intelligence systems. Butterfly Effect's offerings also include advanced cyber tools such as "Artemida," a law enforcement platform designed for mass location and behavioral analysis.
Kazdream, Group 42 (G42), Edge Group, Sign41, Beacon Red, Artemida, Triton
Singapore
Founded by former Cyber Security Agency (CSA) official Thomas Lim, the Computer Security Initiative Consultancy (COSEINC) is a Singapore-based cybersecurity firm with extensive spyware and surveillance operations. In November 2021, it was blacklisting by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which cited the company's misuse of cyber tools to gain unauthorized access to information systems. Lim is known for organizing the SyScan security conference, which was sold to the Chinese technology firm Qihoo 360, another sanctioned entity by the U.S. Lim also operates Pwnzen Technology, a Singaporean subsidiary of China's Shanghai Ben Zhong Information Technology (Pwnzen InfoTech). Founded in 2014 by Chinese hackers associated with the Pangu Team, Pwnzen specializes in cyber monitoring and defense on behalf of China's government. The company collaborates closely with Chinese cyber institutions like CNCERT and CNNVD, which is linked to China's Ministry of State Security. Pwnzen is involved in hacking the phone of a Chinese opposition figure to access their social media accounts.
Pwnzen Technology, Pwnzen InfoTech, Qihoo 360, Pangu Team, SyScan conference
United States
CSRA Inc. (formerly SRA International) is a subsidiary of General Dynamics that played a significant role in the U.S. government's immigration surveillance efforts. The company secured major contracts with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to operate the Visa Lifecycle Vetting Initiative (VLVI) program. Under these contracts, which ran from August 2018 through August 2023, CSRA was paid $42.1 million initially, with the total contract value ultimately reaching $101 million. The company's work involved analyzing and exploiting publicly available information, including media blogs, public hearings, conferences, and academic websites, using automated systems to monitor immigrants' social media and online presence.
General Dynamics, SRA International, Praxis Engineering Technologies, NES Associates, GangNet
United States
Founded in 2009 by Chris Bennet, Callyo is a Florida-based provider of surveillance tools for U.S. federal and law enforcement agencies. The company's tools enable tracking of locations, interception of calls, and turning smartphones into covert recording devices - all without the user's knowledge. One of Callyo's unique features is its ability to facilitate international wiretapping without requiring authorization from local authorities. By intercepting calls and routing them through virtual numbers to its servers, the software ensures that investigators can listen to and record conversations undetected. In Massachusetts, the Boston Police Department and State Police have faced scrutiny for using Callyo's app without obtaining proper warrants. An internal audit revealed that Massachusetts State Police had used the app in at least 250 cases without proper disclosure. The company was acquired by Motorola Solutions in 2020.
Motorola Solutions
United States
CalypsoAI, founded by Neil Serebryany, Davey Gibian, and Victor Ardulov, is a developer of AI surveillance and security technology, including the VESPR platform, designed for national security applications. Backed by investors like Hakluyt Capital, CalypsoAI has established itself as an intelligence partner for U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Air Force. In late 2023, the company joined Palantir's FedStart program, which supports the deployment of advanced AI technologies for U.S. government operations.
Palantir, Hakluyt
Israel
Camero is a leading provider of Sense-Through-The-Wall (STTW) solutions, specializing in the Xaver series of tactical through-wall radar systems designed for military and law enforcement use. These radar-based systems enable continuous monitoring of individuals within a room while operators remain outside. The company was acquired by South Korea based SK Group, a leader in military technology in 2011.
SK Group
Israel
Israeli firm Candiru was founded in 2015 by Eran Shorer and Yaakov Weizman. According to Haaretz, the largest shareholder in Isaac Zack, who has been its chairman since the beginning and was also a founding funder of NSO. In 2021, malware manufactured by Candiru was found on the phones of politicians, journalists, and scholars in Iran, Yemen, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Turkey. Candiru has changed names multiple times, to Grindavik, then DF Associates, then Taveta, then Saito Tech, but it is still commonly known as Candiru. Founded in 2014, is thought to be Israel’s second-largest spyware maker after NSO. With funding from NSO investors as well as the government of Qatar, its systems have been found to have been operated by multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Israel, U.A.E., Hungary, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan. In November 2021, the US Commerce Department added Candiru and NSO to its trade blacklist.
Grindavik, Taveta, Saito Tech, Sherlock
United States
Carbyne is a company headquartered in New York, with offices in Israel and Mexico. Founded by Amir Elichai, a former security guard for the Israeli consul general, Carbyne has its roots in Israeli intelligence, with ties to Unit 8200, a division known for its expertise in surveillance operations. Unit 8200 has been criticized for its surveillance activities, which include monitoring Palestinian civilians for coercive purposes and conducting surveillance on Palestinian-Americans through an intelligence-sharing arrangement with the NSA. Carbyne’s platform, marketed as an enhancement for emergency response, allows for extensive data collection from mobile devices and IoT sensors without explicit user consent. When a 911 call is made, Carbyne can automatically access the caller's precise location and video feed from their smartphone, effectively turning personal devices into surveillance tools. This capability is expanded through partnerships with major tech companies like Cisco, enabling the collection of data from smart city infrastructure, such as road cameras and streetlamps, often without the public's awareness. The company's advisory board includes notable figures such as former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, furthering its deep ties to both the U.S. and Israeli security establishments.
Cisco
United Kingdom
CellXion is a UK company that specializes in communications interception technologies. It has sold £1 Million worth of cellphone-spying devices to UK police. The company is one of the leading providers for IMSI catchers (covert communications data capture equipment that can track a phone's location and intercept phone calls and messages.) According to Balkan Insight, CellXion received licenses to supply Serbia with wireless communication interception tools.
Israel
The Israeli intelligence company Cellebrite is best recognized for its flagship product, the Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED). This device is renowned for its capabilities: bypassing passwords and encryption to unlock mobile phones and other devices, extracting valuable data, and when used in conjunction with Cellebrite's Physical Analyzer, enabling operators to analyze data thoroughly and generate detailed reports. According to Cellebrite’s parent company, the Japanese Sun Corporation, UFED has been purchased by police, military, law enforcement agencies, and intelligence services in more than 150 countries, commanding a leading position in the global market. A report by Amnesty International reveals that Serbian authorities have utilized Cellebrite tools to unlock the mobile phones of activists and a journalist, subsequently infecting them with malware. With plans to go public, Cellebrite anticipates further expanding its operations and market presence.
FutureDial, Digital Clues, BlackBag Technologies
Canada
Cerebro is a software product developed by Sandvine Inc. (formerly Procera Networks). It is part of Sandvine's network intelligence for broadband and mobile operators. French spyware vendor Nexa Technologies bought Cerebro and sold it to Egypt through an intermediary in the United Arab Emirates.
Sandvine, Procera Networks
France
ChapsVision is a technology company specializing in data processing, with a strong focus on surveillance solutions. It integrates advanced video analysis and artificial intelligence to deliver what it calls "intelligent video surveillance systems." These systems are designed for various applications, including automated tracking of individuals or objects using pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras. Through its ACIC division, ChapsVision customizes solutions for surveillance, public monitoring, and people counting, utilizing a network of cameras and image analysis to automate such monitoring tasks. Through AI-augmented tools, the company also offers an integrated suite of solutions designed to access, gather, monitor, and analyze information from diverse global sources.
Sinequa, Systran, Owlint
United States
Circinus is a defense and intelligence contractor that provided social media monitoring and intelligence for the UAE. Acquired by U.S Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy from former US Army intelligence officer Alan Stone in 2014, Circinus operated a $200 million contract with the UAE's armed forces. It also maintains contracts with the US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) and US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Circinus has marketed surveillance and data-mining tools to various government agencies, including in Cyprus, Tunisia, Romania, and the UAE, with pitch documents touting capabilities like identity resolution and social media geolocation. Former Circinus executives, including ex-CIA officers, have capitalized on the company's connections to establish new surveillance and intelligence ventures. Keith Noble, a former Circinus director, now runs BlackCloud International, which markets OSINT tools to governments, including contracts in the UAE and Eastern Europe. Similarly, Nick Williams, another former executive, has launched WMi General Trading in Abu Dhabi.
BlackCloud International, WMi General Trading
Israel
An NSO linked company providing technology that exploits SS7 vulnerabilities to track phones. According to leaked documents, Circles customers can purchase a system that they connect to their local telecommunications companies’ infrastructure, or can use a separate system called the “Circles Cloud,” which interconnects with telecommunications companies around the world. Circles Technologies was founded by Tal Dilian, a former commander of the IDF's Intelligence Corps Technological Units.
NSO Group, Pegasus
Russia
Citadel is a significant player in Russia's telecommunications surveillance industry, known for its development and provision of advanced monitoring and data interception technologies. The company operates in a market heavily influenced by government security services, particularly the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia. It also operates through various subsidiaries that specialize in different aspects of telecommunications and surveillance technology.
MFI Soft
India
ClearTrail enable intelligence agencies to conduct extensive surveillance by intercepting communication data and applying advanced data analytics. One of their primary products, CARBN.AI, is an IP data decoding and analytics platform that automates the processing of vast amounts of data. Its deep packet inspection capabilities provide a comprehensive 360-degree profile, revealing the devices used, web browsing behaviors, accessed communication channels, and more, painting a detailed picture of a a user's digital life. In a trade fair, ClearTrail was advertising attempts to extract information from Signal, such as metadata that can be exploited, but was still unable to break its encryption. ClearTrail also marketed a system called Astra, described as a "remote infection and monitoring framework" with the capability of "non-traceable payload delivery," according to documents published by Privacy International. Once deployed on a computer or mobile phone, ClearTrail's spyware can collect data stored on the device, including location, screenshots, Skype calls, and search history. Among its offerings is ComTrail, a centralized system for mass interception and monitoring of voice and data networks. ComTrail supports the interception of communications across diverse platforms, including Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, BlackBerry, and GSM voice calls, while offering advanced features like speaker recognition, target location, and instant analysis of vast datasets. It is capable of handling millions of communications daily and correlating identities across multiple networks. ClearTrail also markets xTrail, a targeted IP monitoring solution designed for high-speed data interception and analysis. This system can filter communications based on keywords, URLs, IP addresses, or user identities, and it integrates with link analysis tools to provide actionable intelligence. Another tool, QuickTrail, offers tactical Wi-Fi monitoring, enabling the interception of communications in public networks, such as cyber cafes or free Wi-Fi zones, and supports spyware deployment for deeper data extraction. Meanwhile, its mTrail product provides "off-the-air" interception of GSM communications, allowing passive monitoring of voice calls and SMS without network operator support. It also enables target location tracking using signal strength and other identifiers.
ComTrail, xTrail, QuickTrail, mTrail, Astra, CARBN.AI
United States
Using a growing database of over 30 billion images scraped from social media and other online platforms, Clearview AI provides law enforcement and private entities with the ability to identify individuals through facial recognition software. The company has been criticized for privacy violations and the misuse of its technology to track activists and protesters.
China
CloudWalk Technology is an AI company that has developed facial recognition software designed to track and surveil members of ethnic minority groups, including Tibetans and Uyghurs, and alert authorities if too many individuals gather in specific locations. Cloudwalk’s surveillance technology is also used outside of China. In 2018, Cloudwalk and the Zimbabwean government agreed to the installment of a mass surveillance network in Zimbabwe. The agreement included a requirement that the Zimbabwean government send images it acquires from the surveillance network back to Cloudwalk’s offices in China, so that Cloudwalk could improve the ability of its facial recognition software to recognize individuals based on skin pigmentation.
ESWIN Computer
United Kingdom
Cobham is a significant player in global surveillance, with a strong focus on border monitoring and intelligence gathering. The company provides advanced tools for audio, video, and IP transmission, as well as tagging, tracking, and locating systems, which are used for real-time surveillance and data collection. Its Special Mission division provides airborne border surveillance, including contracts with the Australian government for maritime and border monitoring. Cobham also develops covert and overt surveillance systems, such as COFDM IP Mesh solutions and non-line-of-sight video surveillance. Cobham’s systems are integrated into vehicles, allowing for covert and overt surveillance by law enforcement agencies and military operations.
Advent International
Israel
Cobwebs Technologies is an Israeli company whose surveillance software collects data from phones and social media activity, converting it into intelligence. The Los Angeles Police Department is amongst its users. Cobwebs has secured contracts with several U.S federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through its Delaware-based branch, Cobwebs America Inc. In 2023, Cobwebs was acquired by PenLink through the support of private equity firm Spire Capital, a year after PenLink had also acquired another surveillance company, GeoTime.
PenLink, Tangles, GeoTime
Israel
Cognyte Software Ltd is an Israeli company that specializes in analytics software and is known to be a notorious surveillance vendor. Cognyte, currently located in Herzliya, Israel, shares an address with Verint and now provides cyberintelligence services similar to those previously offered by Verint. A recent investigation by Haaretz uncovered that Cognyte's mass surveillance technology has been sold to Myanmar in recent years. Its software was also unlawfully utilized by Brazil’s intelligence agency to monitor and intimidate prominent politicians, journalists, judges, and environmental officials in the country during Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right administration. In 2022, Cognyte sold a portion of their intelligence analytics software to the Volaris Group, a Canadian private equity firm, for US $47.5 million.
Verint Systems Inc., U-TX Technologies, Intellicene, Volaris Group
Czech Republic
Compelson Lab offers software, such as MOBILedit Forensic, that allows security forces to extract sensitive data from confiscated mobile phones and smartwatches. It can also access data from cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive, as well as social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn. Law enforcement agencies in various regions, including Delhi and Hyderabad Police in India, use MOBILedit.
United Kingdom
ComsTrac Limited is a developer of surveillance and interception technologies, including IMSI catchers for GSM/UMTS/LTE networks, passive and hybrid GSM interceptors, and related tools that enable cellular monitoring and tracking. Their official website also markets the Mosaic OSINT suite for "monitoring and manipulating social media" and other online platforms, RF direction-finding systems, and surveillance systems integrated with drones. More specifically, their website boasts of the ability to develop "Trojans and Hacks to invisibly attack targeted iOS, Android and Blackberry handsets plus all Windows format and Mac OS computers. All social media apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, Line and Telegram can be intercepted and read along with all internet browsers, emails and cellular voice and messaging transmissions." ComsTrac is listed among the UK companies authorized to export telecommunications interception technology, including IMSI catchers, to various countries, including those with abysmal human rights records. The company has a subsidiary named Comstrac FZE operated out of Ajman, the United Arab Emirates.
Comstrac FZE
United States
Converus, a private company specializing in lie detection technologies, has developed a product called EyeDetect, which uses eye-tracking technology to assess truthfulness. This tool analyzes subtle changes in eye movement and pupil dilation to predict deception. Converus pitched EyeDetect to the CIA in 2022 for its potential application in border control and migration management. in 2023, Converus launched VerifEye, a smartphone app that extends this technology to mobile devices, enabling self-administered truth verification tests. Converus's technologies have reportedly been adopted by over 600 clients in 50+ countries, including law enforcement agencies.
EyeDetect, VerifEye
Cyprus
Coralco Tech, an Israeli-Cypriot cyber-intelligence firm founded in 2016 by former U-TX Technologies employee Eyal Almog, is a provider of surveillance and cyber-intelligence solutions. Based in Limassol, Coralco offers a wide range of products, including open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools and interception technologies for LTE, GSM, WiFi, and other communication platforms. The company has been linked to controversial activities, including the development of tools with similarities to malware from Wolf Intelligence, such as the WolfRAT, which targeted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. A command and control panel named Coralco Archimedes, identified in a Cisco Talos report, further suggested ties between Coralco and Wolf Intelligence, though the companies have since parted ways. Coralco has also been involved in international deals, such as using its Singaporean branch to sell phone interception systems to the Bangladesh armed forces, with equipment shipped via Cyprus.
U-TX Technologies, Verint, Wolf Intelligence
United States
Corellium is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Miami, Florida. It sells phone-virtualization software for catching security bugs, and has sold its tools to controversial government spyware and surveillance product developers in Israel, the UAE, Russia, and to a cybersecurity firm with potential ties to the Chinese government, according to a leaked document reviewed by WIRED that contains internal company communications. These documents show that in 2019, Correllium offered a trial of its product to notorious spyware maker NSO Group, with the UAE's DarkMatter also pursued as a potential customer.
NSO Group, DarkMatter
Israel
Corsight AI is a facial recognition technology company headquartered in Israel with operations worldwide. The company specializes in developing facial recognition and surveillance technology powered by what they call "Autonomous AI," which, according to the company, is based on 15 years of neuroscience research and over 250 patents. Their technology is designed to mimic human facial recognition capabilities. Corsight's technology allegedly identify individuals even when less than 50% of their face is visible. It also provides real-time alerts and video analysis and claims to identify people wearing masks. More recently, it was developing technology to create facial models from DNA. Israel implemented a mass facial recognition program in the Gaza Strip using Corsight AI's technology. The system was deployed at military checkpoints along major evacuation routes where Palestinians were fleeing southward, creating an extensive database of Palestinian civilians without their knowledge or consent. The technology faced notable accuracy challenges, particularly when processing grainy footage or partially obscured faces. One significant case highlighting these accuracy issues involved Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, who was wrongfully detained at a checkpoint in mid-November while attempting to leave Gaza for Egypt with his family. After being flagged by the system as a wanted person, he was held in detention for two days, during which he endured beating and interrogation, before being released back to Gaza without explanation. According to Gizmodo, in 2024 Corsight AI introduced a new surveillance system that monitors "sweethearting" - a practice where retail employees give unauthorized discounts to people they know - by analyzing customer-employee interactions, including physical proximity and visit patterns. The technology, which has already been implemented by unnamed clients, tracks whether customers consistently visit the same employees and triggers security alerts for suspicious patterns.
Cortica
Israel
Corsound AI is a technology company based in Israel that specializes in voice intelligence technologies, sound and facial recognition, audio analytics and artificial intelligence. Corsound AI's clients primarily include government agencies, law enforcement organizations, and security firms that utilize their audio analytics technology for advanced surveillance. Its primary investor is Awz Ventures, whose advisory board and strategic advisors include Dame Stella Rimington, former MI5 Director-General, James Woolsey, former CIA director, Tamir Pardo, former director of the Mossad, and Buck Revell, former FBI associate deputy director.
Israel
Israeli company Cortica, and its subsidiary Corsight AI, has been using facial recognition and Google Photos to conduct mass surveillance of Palestinians without their knowledge or consent. Canadian-Israeli VC firm, AWZ ventures, is among its lead investors. Their tools are also deployed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for facial recognition purposes.
Corsight AI
Denmark
Covidence is a Danish company that develops miniature video and audio surveillance equipment, and which provides tools for remote surveillance over insecure networks. Their products are tailored for use by police forces, intelligence agencies, special forces, and other government-approved organizations, specifically designed for scenarios which require covert data gathering. In 2019, it was acquired by EMK Capital.
EMK Capital
United States
Crimson Hexagon, a Boston-based social media analytics firm, specializes in using artificial intelligence to analyze vast amounts of public social media data, providing insights for clients ranging from corporations like Adidas to government agencies such as the U.S. State Department. Founded in 2007 by Harvard professor Gary King and Candace Fleming, the company has built a repository of over a trillion public social media posts from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (now X). However, it has faced scrutiny over potential misuse of data for surveillance purposes, particularly in contracts with entities like the U.S. government, the Turkish government, and a Russian nonprofit linked to the Kremlin. Crimson Hexagon became known as Brandwatch after a merger in 2018, and was later acquired by Cision for $450 million.
Brandwatch, Cision
France
Criteo, a French digital marketing company specializing in targeted advertising, has deepened its focus on surveillance-driven data strategies with the launch of its Criteo Innovation Hub in Washington, D.C. A key move was enlisting James Shinn, a former CIA East Asia officer, whose intelligence background signals a focus on advanced data collection and analysis techniques. In 2022, Criteo was hit with a preliminary €60 million (~$65 million) fine by France’s privacy watchdog, CNIL, for violations of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The investigation found that Criteo lacked proper legal bases for its extensive tracking and profiling practices
Criteo Innovation Hub
United States
CrowdOptic is a vision analytics company specializing in advanced triangulation technology that integrates with realtime video systems to improve surveillance and facial recognition. Their products enable the use of fixed cameras, body cams, smartphones, and drones to identify individuals and targets in realtime. In partnership with NEC Australia, CrowdOptic has developed advanced surveillance technology for smart cities. In collaboration, the companies built a system which allows cameras equipped with CrowdOptic software to stream video to servers running NEC’s facial recognition software, enabling the automated monitoring and analysis of public spaces. According to Jon Fisher, founder of CrowdOptic, police in China are using CrowdOptic's technology to read license plates and "identify incidents" more efficiently. The system can instantly track when multiple police officers focus on the same object, providing faster results compared to manually sifting through surveillance camera footage.
NEC Australia, Intel, Sony, Google
Italy
Cy4gate is an Italian company specializing in cyber intelligence. Meta blocked various accounts associated with Cy4gate after uncovering evidence that the company was engaged in deceptive practices, manipulating users to reveal their personal information and conducting reconnaissance activities through deceptive methods, such as scraping information about targets via fake social media accounts with AI-generated profile photos. It has reportedly made sales to the UAE government.
Mubadala, Elettronica Group Company, Leonardo
Macedonia
Employees at CyberLab and other firms founded by the same Israeli nationals, who worked from the same office used by Cytrox and Inpedio in the Macedonian capital of Skopje, and were also involved in Predator’s development. These efforts were part of the offerings provided by Intellexa, a notorious collective that develops and sells spyware.
United States
CyberPoint was listed as a partner to Hacking Team, the Italian company that sold spyware used by repressive regimes across the world. It also has a known presence in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and trains analysts with the Electronic Security Authority, the Emirati intelligence agency.
Hacking Team
India
CyberRoot is an Indian company that develops tracking phishing links and other intrusive software tools for indiscriminate surveillance on behalf of various clients, often law firms.
CyberRoot International Ltd, CyberRoot Risk Advisory Private Ltd, BellTroX Infotech Services Private Ltd
Israel
Cyberbit is an Israeli cybersecurity company that was established as a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, a major Israeli defense company, and which offers a comprehensive solution for monitoring and extracting information from remote PCs. The Ethiopian government targeted Oromo dissidents with Cyberbit's commercial spyware, PC Surveillance System (PSS), renamed PC 360.
Elbit Systems, Eagle
Israel
Cyberglobes, an Israeli open-source intelligence (OSINT) firm, has established itself as a prominent exporter of intelligence solutions despite facing bans from platforms like Facebook due to its spying activities. Led by Pinhas (aka Pini) Kleiner, the company has been expanding its global footprint, recently showcasing its social network monitoring tools at the Digipol policing and defense fair in Hyderabad, India. Cyberglobes has a history in the Indian market, having demonstrated its solutions to Indian police forces as early as 2019. It has also been pitching its social network surveillance technologies to the United Arab Emirates.
Israel
Cyberint is an Israel-based company specializing in cyber-intelligence. Through its Argos digital risk protection platform, Cyberint delivers real-time intelligence by analyzing vast amounts of data from various sources, including the dark and deep web, as well as social media. In August, 2024, Cyperint was acquired by Check Point Software Technologies, another Israeli company in the space.
Check Point
Macedonia
Cytrox is known for developing sophisticated spyware used for cyber intelligence and surveillance purposes. Its products are designed to provide advanced hacking capabilities, enabling clients to infiltrate and monitor targeted devices. The entity is set up by the same Israeli nationals that were involved in developing and then later selling the spyware known as Predator. According to Forbes, Cytrox was acquired by Tal Dilian, a former commander of the Isreal Defense Forces (IDF) and the founder of the Intellexa Consortium, a collective os spyware companies. The technology was incorporated into WiSpear, which provides end-to-end WiFi surveillance solutions for the intelligence market.
WiSpear, Intellexa, Predator
Austria
The spyware developer, officially named DSIRF (Decision Supporting Information Research and Forensic), and operating under the codename KNOTWEED, created the spyware Subzero, which was used to target law firms, banks, and consultancy firms in the UK, Austria, and Panama. According to Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC), DSIRF employed various exploits to compromise systems, including a zero-day privilege escalation exploit for Windows and a remote code execution attack via Adobe Reader. Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has close business ties to DSIRF, as well as ties to the founder of the NSO Group, Shalev Hulio, whom he co-founded Dream Security with.
KNOTWEED
China
Dahua Technology is one of China's biggest surveillance equipment makers. In February 2024, Dahua announced that it will establish a joint venture with Alat, a newly formed entity owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), to manufacture surveillance hardware in Saudi Arabia. The company's technology has been linked to the abuse of China's Uighur minority and its surveillance systems has also been deployed in the U.S, Vietnam, Mexico, UK and Brazil. Dahua confirmed it sells “skin color” analytics and defended them as “a basic feature of a smart security solution.” A Reuters report revealed that Myanmar's military junta is installing Chinese-built facial recognition cameras in key urban centers to strengthen its surveillance capabilities, with technology provided by Dahua alongside other Chinese surveillance giants, Hikvision and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.
ABCOM Distribution LLC, Al-Futtaim Engineering and Technologies, Amazon Web Services, Dell, Allianz Parque, Vatican Museums, Alat
Lebanon
Dark Caracal is a sophisticated cyber-espionage operation linked to Lebanon's General Directorate of General Security (GDGS). Discovered in 2018 by researchers from Lookout and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), this campaign has targeted individuals and organizations across 21 countries, including military personnel, journalists, activists, lawyers, and government officials. Dark Caracal employs advanced surveillance tools, such as the custom Android malware "Pallas," which is embedded in trojanized versions of secure messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Threema. These tools enable the extraction of sensitive data, including messages, call records, photos, and account credentials. The operation relies on spear-phishing and social engineering tactics to compromise devices, often directing victims to download malware-laden apps through fake links on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
United Arab Emirates
DarkMatter is now known as CPX. Operating under the codename Project Raven, this cybersecurity firm employed former NSA operatives to conduct hacking and surveillance on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. Their targets included journalists, activists, and political opponents of the UAE government. Interviews with nine former Raven operatives, along with a review of thousands of pages of project documents and emails, show that surveillance techniques taught by the NSA were central to the UAE’s efforts to monitor opponents. The operatives utilized an arsenal of cyber tools, including a cutting-edge espionage platform known as Karma, in which Raven operatives say they hacked into the iPhones of hundreds of activists and political leaders. DarkMatter was founded in 2014 by Faisal Al Bannai, who also created Axiom, one of the largest sellers of mobile devices in the region.
Project Raven, Karma, Axiom, Digital14, CPX
United States
DarkOwl is a cybersecurity company providing tools for dark web intelligence and monitoring. Their platform provides access to a vast database of dark web content, enabling clients to search for leaked credentials, sensitive data, and other details. Its DarkOwl Vision UI has access to a wide range of sources including Tor and Telegram. It also has capabilities for entity-based searches for specific variables like email addresses, IPs, and cryptocurrencies, as well as network-specific filtering to focus on particular darknet platforms, forums or messaging services. Its Dubai-based subsidiary is DarkOwl FZE LLC, which it uses to support intelligence operations by the United Arab Emirates and other governments in the region.
Pegasus Intelligence, Babel Street
United Kingdom
Darktrace is a British cybersecurity company founded in 2013. In Bahrain, Darktrace has partnered with Infonas, a local distribution company owned by former Bahraini foreign minister Hamad Ahmed Abdulaziz Al-Amer. Darktrace's advisory board includes notable figures from the intelligence industry, such as Jonathan Evans, the former head of the UK's MI5. In the U.S, Darktrace had recruited former CIA officer David Mata to support its activities. It has also established a specialized division, Darktrace Federal, to serve the United States Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, and federal civilian organizations. This division employs former members of the US intelligence community who have led cyber operations at the CIA and supported the NSA and Pentagon. Darktrace had also formed a partnership with French spyware firm Nexa Technologies, whose senior executives were indicted for the sale of surveillance software to authoritarian regimes in Libya and Egypt that resulted in the torture and disappearance of dissidents. In October 2024, Thoma Bravo, a software investment firm, completed its acquisition of Darktrace, valuing the company at approximately $5.3 billion.
Nexa Technologies
France
Arms giant Dassault Systèmes, a strategic partner of Thales, sold a mass surveillance system to Egypt in collaboration with Nexa Technologies. In 2017, Ahmed Alaa, a student in Egypt, was imprisoned for 80 days after being accused of posting a photo under a rainbow flag on social media. His arrest was facilitated by a mass surveillance system sold to the Egyptian government by French companies Nexa Technologies, Ercom-Suneris (a subsidiary of Thales), and Dassault Systèmes. This system, which includes internet surveillance software "Cerebro" and phone tapping device "Cortex vortex," allowed the regime to monitor and arrest its opponents.
Thales, Nexa Technologies, Cerebro
United States
DataDirect Networks (DDN) specializes in providing high-performance data storage solutions and data management services, with real-time surveillance and analysis capabilities. Egypt constructed a massive data server in collaboration with the company and intercepted traffic from submarine internet cables connecting the country to Europe for data analysis. This operation was headquartered at the Almaza military base in Cairo.
Italy
DataForense s.r.l. is an Italian company founded in 2013 by Annunziata Cirillo, initially focused on developing forensic tools and invoicing software. In 2015, the company expanded into interception technologies with its Artemide/Spyrtacus project, a spyware system capable of stealthily extracting data from Android and iOS devices. This expansion was further strengthening by recruiting experts from the Italian interceptions specialist IPS Intelligence. According to the Cyber Statecraft Initiative, the company was in liquidation as of 2024.
IPS Intelligence
United States
DataWorks Plus is a South Carolina-based company that provides advanced surveillance technology, equipping police with the ability to identify faces from surveillance footage in real time. One of their flagship products, FaceWatch Plus, offers "continuous screening and monitoring of live video streams," as described on the company's website. This technology was adopted by law enforcement agencies in cities like Chicago and Detroit, enabling real-time identification from live video feeds. Another one of their products, FaceCompare Plus, offers standalone morphological facial comparison, allowing agencies to compare two facial images side-by-side without a full facial recognition system. The use of DataWorks Plus' technology has raised significant concerns, particularly regarding its reliability and potential for racial bias. In Detroit, the police department's use of this facial recognition technology has been criticized for its almost exclusive application against Black people in 2020. The department's own data revealed that the technology frequently misidentifies people, with Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig admitting that the system almost never brings back a direct match and often leads to incorrect identifications. Despite these issues, DataWorks Plus does not provide specific guidance to law enforcement on how to use the software, leaving decisions largely to the discretion of individual officers. This lack of oversight, combined with the technology's unreliability, has led to wrongful arrests and raised serious concerns among human rights advocates about the broader implications for privacy and racial justice.
Thales, Canon, Cognitec, Matica, Integrated Biometrics, Aware, Animetrics
United States
Dataminr is a company specializing in real-time information discovery and which facilitates government monitoring. Dataminr has a relationship with the CIA through its involvement in the CIA's venture capital arm, In-Q-Tel (IQT). In-Q-Tel invests in technology companies that have potential applications for intelligence gathering and "national security." Dataminr received funding from IQT to develop its capabilities in analyzing social media data for intelligence purposes. In March 2024, it was revealed that Elon Musk's X, then known as Twitter, was selling user data to Dataminr.
United Kingdom
Datong, formerly known as Sepura, is a UK-based company that has been involved in distributing surveillance technology, including IMSI Catchers, which can intercept mobile phone data. In 2009, Datong attempted to export an IMSI Catcher, branded "Optima," to an unnamed Asian country. The UK government rejected this export, citing human rights concerns. Datong attempted to do this by serving as a distributor to Cellxion, the manufacturer of the IMSI Catcher. Datong was acquired by Seven Technologies Group on May 10, 2013, for $11.4 million. As of July 9, 2013, Datong plc operates as a subsidiary of Seven Technologies Ltd.
Sepura, CellXion
Estonia
Defendec is an Estonia-based border surveillance technology company. Its main product, Smartdec, provides wireless, AI-powered detection and video surveillance systems that are easily deployable. Smartdec’s network of lightweight, camouflaged cameras and motion sensors provides real-time alerts and visual confirmation of targets. Defendec has secured significant contracts with organizations such asiddl the U.S. Department of State. Even in regions with limited GSM coverage, such as parts of the Middle East or Southeast Asia, Defendec’s CEO Jaanus Tamm highlights the system’s adaptability, using local radio networks as a bridge to maintain connectivity. The company is supported by a network of investors and collaborators who are heavily involved in the surveillance industry, including Rajat Khare, the Indian hacking-for-hire specialist who collaborated with many governments and companies to hack emails and private messages on behalf of clients.
Germany
DigiTask GmbH is a German company that develops surveillance tools and spyware for law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Best known for its controversial "Bundestrojan" (Federal Trojan) spyware, DigiTask provides software capable of intercepting encrypted communications, including VoIP calls, by installing malware on target devices. Their tools include features like keylogging, screenshot capture, remote file access, and the ability to bypass encryption protocols like SSL by intercepting keys on local systems. DigiTask's products, such as the "WifiCatcher," are designed for covert operations, enabling authorities to monitor public WiFi networks and track users across hotspots. The spyware has been described as unsophisticated and easily detectable by cybersecurity experts, as revealed by investigations from groups like the Chaos Computer Club. The company's tools have been sold to various governments, including those in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
United Kingdom
Digital Barriers is a provider of real-time video surveillance and analytics, primarily servicing law enforcement agencies. Its technologies include live video streaming over cellular networks, body cameras, and vehicle-mounted systems. The company has collaborated with Corsight AI to develop a facial intelligence system capable of real-time recognition using security cameras, body cams, and vehicle-mounted devices. Additionally, Digital Barriers has partnered with Sonic Communications to provide live surveillance capabilities for law enforcement agencies. The company has also worked with NATO organizations and governments within the Five Eyes Anglosphere (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). Their surveillance technologies have been deployed in military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Digital Barriers has secured a contract with one of the largest police forces in Asia to install its TVI surveillance technology, a real-time live video streaming tool, in police vehicles as part of a multi-year program.
Corsight AI, Sonic Communications, Vodafone
Israel
Digital Clues is a company that offers omnichannel intelligence tools, and which shares the same founder with the notorious surveillance firm AGT International, Mati Kochavi. Their technology focuses on kickstarting investigations and surveillance operations by collecting and connecting data when initial clues are scarce or non-existent, including from the "surface web, deep web and dark web." In 2021, it was acquired by Cellebrite, an Israeli digital intelligence company also featured here for its extensive surveillance activities, and whose technologies have been sold to police, military, law enforcement agencies, and secret services in over 150 countries.
Cellebrite, Sun Corporation
United Arab Emirates
Digital14 is carrying on the cyber operations of DarkMatter, which worked under the codename Project Raven. DarkMatter is a cybersecurity firm in Abu Dhabi that employed former NSA operatives to conduct hacking and surveillance on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. Digital14 has recruited engineers like Eric Eifert, former senior vice-president for cyberdefence at the US defence company ‘ManTech’, and Jen Chen, head of ‘xen1thLabs’. Some of DarkMatter’s cyber activities have already been transferred to Digital14 that now distributes the secure communications system ‘Katim’. The firm has also taken over the vulnerabilities research laboratory — xen1thLabs. In 2022, it was integrated into EDGE, a prominent defense conglomerate based in the UAE, and rebranded as "KATIM." The company is now known as CPX.
Project Raven, DarkMatter, KATIM, CPX
United States
DigitalStakeout provides tools for monitoring and analyzing social media, specifically catered to law enforcement agencies. An analysis of the Corvallis Police Department's use of DigitalStakeout over 13 months revealed demographic disparities in flagged social media posts, with a higher representation of Black and Hispanic people. The monitoring tool has been used by police departments and agencies to track hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter.
Russia
Discovery Telecom Technologies (DTT), based in Moscow with offices in Switzerland and Salt Lake City, Utah, specializes in telecommunications interception technology. Wired reports that their AIBIS system (In-Between Interception System) operates by impersonating a cell phone tower to capture nearby signals covertly, enabling operators to eavesdrop and record communications. The company's clientele reportedly includes the Kremlin and the Federal Security Service (FSB), as stated on its Russian website.
AIBIS
Israel
Dream Security is a company co-founded by Shalev Hulio, the former CEO of NSO Group, an Israeli technology firm known for developing sophisticated surveillance tools, including the Pegasus spyware. The other co-founders include Sebastian Kurz, the former chancellor of Austria, and Michael Eisenberg, an Israeli American venture capitalist who is also a general partner of Aleph, a Tel-Aviv-based venture capital firm which participated in funding for Dream.
NSO Group, Pegasus
Switzerland
Dreamlab Technologies, a Swiss company, was involved in a surveillance project in Turkmenistan in partnership with Gamma International GmbH (creators of the FinFisher spyware). Documents leaked by WikiLeaks revealed that Dreamlab helped establish an "Infection Proxy Infrastructure" on Turkmenistan's networks, enabling widespread surveillance. This infrastructure allowed for the infection of devices through fake software updates, file downloads, or website injections, granting full access to personal data, emails, social media messages, and even enabling remote control of microphones and cameras. Dreamlab provided technical services, including network analysis, hardware and software installation, staff training, and system maintenance. The leaked documents suggest the two companies also collaborated for similar interception projects in Oman. According to Intelligence Online, Dreamlab has since diversified its operations, creating new ventures like Slinf, a threat intelligence firm co-founded with German SIGINT experts, which develops tools such as RATspotting for detecting command-and-control servers and CyKnife for open-source intelligence. Dreamlab previously collaborated with German defense group Rheinmetall to create the consulting firm Cyel. In 2019, Cyel was split, with part of its operations integrated into Dreamlab and the rest taken over by Rheinmetall under the name Cyber Works. Dreamlab maintains offices in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Oman, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Bolivia, Peru, India, Malaysia and Chile.
Gamma International, FinFisher, Slinf, CyTor, CyKnife, Cyel, Rheinmetall, Cyber Works
United Arab Emirates
EDGE, officially known as "EDGE Group," is a prominent defense conglomerate headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It was established in November 2019 as part of the UAE government's efforts to consolidate and modernize the country's defense industry. In 2022, it absorbed Digital14, a cybersecurity firm based in the Abu Dhabi and which had resumed the operations of DarkMatter, which operated under the codename Project Raven. Project Raven employed former NSA operatives and other foreign contractors to conduct hacking and surveillance activities, often targeting individuals and entities deemed as threats to the UAE government, such as journalists and human rights activists. In 2024, Edge partnered with the São Paulo State Government on a surveillance project called "Crystal Ball."
Digital14, Project Raven, DarkMatter, KATIM, xen1thLabs
Denmark
ETI is a company specializing in high-tech surveillance equipment. The company developed a system called Evident, which enabled governments to conduct mass surveillance of their citizens' communications. In 2011, BAE bought ETI and the company became part of BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. Freedom of information requests submitted by the BBC and the Dagbladet Information newspaper in Denmark revealed exports to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Morocco and Algeria.
BAE Systems, Evident
Canada
EXFO is a company that sells surveillance technology, including IMSI catcher software and related hardware, to government agencies. Their product, NetHawk, is capable of monitoring traditional mobile networks as well as LTE, can track phones’ locations and intercept texts and calls, and is small enough to fit inside a backpack or shoulder bag. EXFO has exported its products to countries such as Bosnia, Oman, Indonesia, Mexico, Serbia, Morocco, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Macedonia. The company is headquartered in Quebec, Canada and has other corporate offices in Montreal and Oulu, Finland. It also has offices in the U.S, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Singapore, China and India. EXFO is a public company which received funding from the government of Canada.
NetHawk
Germany
Elaman GmbH is a German-based company that specializes in providing advanced surveillance and intelligence solutions to government agencies and law enforcement worldwide. Founded with a focus on equipping authorities with monitoring tools, Elaman has become a significant player in the global surveillance industry. The company offers a wide range of products and services, including communication interception, data extraction, and analysis tools designed to monitor, intercept, and analyze various forms of electronic communication. Elaman is known for partnering with other surveillance technology providers, including Gamma Group, to offer other spyware and sophisticated surveillance tools like the FinFisher suite. Elaman sold the spyware FinSpy to Turkey, which used it to spy on opposition figures, as well as to the government of Indonesia.
FinFisher GmbH, FinFisher Labs GmbH, Gamma Group
Israel
Elbit Systems is a leading military tech exporter in Israel, specializing in various advanced surveillance technologies, deployed in space, air, sea and ground operations. Its surveillance systems, drones, and other high-tech tools, which are used in violent military operations and in high demand worldwide.
C4I and Cyber, Elisra Ltd, Elop, IMI Systems Ltd.
Israel
Founded in 2009 by Nir Gabay and Roee Kash, Elsight is a company specializing in advanced communication technologies, particularly known for its innovative surveillance drones. These drones are designed to provide real-time data transmission for various applications, including "defense." Since October 7th, 2023, there has been a notable increase in demand for Elsight's systems from different defense entities. However, the company's management is unwilling to be transparent about this uptick in sales. They indicate that the heightened interest has a growing emphasis on military and defense applications, a trend expected to persist moving forward. "Military organizations worldwide have recognized the value of integrating cellular infrastructure for diverse operational uses," the company stated in an interview with Haaretz. Elsight has integrated its Halo connectivity platform with Lockheed Martin’s Indago 4 quadcopter uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV).
Lockheed Martin
Italy
Endoacustica Europe, headquartered in Bari, Italy, is a provider of surveillance technologies. Their product lineup includes high-performance International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, which enable the detection and tracking of mobile devices by emulating legitimate cell towers, compelling nearby mobile phones to connect and capturing their IMSI numbers. This is used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies in monitoring and intercepting mobile communications. According to its official website, Endoacustica's products are generally utilized by government agencies, law enforcement bodies, and security organizations requiring mobile surveillance and communication interception capabilities. These products include spy micro cameras, mini WiFi 4G IP Umts cameras, video surveillance drones, cellular spy, spy earphones, as well as various gadgets for related activities.
Spain
Epsilon is a Barcelona-based cybersecurity company specializing in developing exploits and targeting the American market. Founded by a group of elite researchers formerly linked to the Australian firm Azimuth, which was acquired by U.S. defense contractor L3Harris, Epsilon is led by a French researcher Jeremy Fetiveau (who used to work for L3Harris Trenchant) and also involves two Israeli partners, the founders of Bindecy, a lesser-known Israeli spyware firm. Epsilon focuses on creating spyware tools tailored to the needs of intelligence agencies and law enforcement, specifically for clients demanding exclusive, custom-built solutions rather than off-the-shelf spyware.
Azimuth, Bindecy, L3Harris
Israel
Equus Technologies is an Israeli company behind an advanced spyware, known as "Lipizzan," designed to steal users' data. The company offers custom solutions for law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and national security organizations. According to Google researchers, Lipizzan is a multi-stage spyware capable of monitoring and extracting a user’s emails, SMS messages, location data, voice calls, and media files. Google identified 20 Lipizzan apps, which were distributed in a highly targeted manner to fewer than 100 devices. In response, Google has blocked both the developers and the apps from the Android ecosystem. Besides malware, the source reported that Equus Technologies also offers app and cloud interception technology packaged as portable devices. These devices, which can be carried in backpacks, are designed to connect to nearby cellphones and steal passwords along with other sensitive personal data. At least one employee of Equus Technologies is a former staff member of NSO Group, the notorious Israeli malware vendor. After their exposure in numerous reports in 2017, the company rebranded its name to Merlinx.
Lipizzan, NSO Group, Merlinx
France
The administration of Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi bought surveillance technologies from the French cybersecurity company Ercom in 2014.
Thales
Israel
Evron Systems Ltd is an Israeli company that provides advanced communication systems, security systems, control, and multimedia solutions. It has been involved in developing surveillance technologies, including facial recognition software called Aureus 3D-AI, which can analyze still and video footage using 3D technology and sophisticated algorithms. This software can perform extensive facial comparisons at high speeds. Evron is the Israeli representative and distributor for On Net surveillance System Inc. (OnSSI). Among its clients are the Israeli military. The company is privately owned by Meron Abraham and Sidis Aharon.
OnSSI
China
Eyecool Technology, formerly known as Techshino, is a Chinese biometrics company that develops facial and iris recognition systems and has deep ties to China's public security and military sectors. The company, a supplier to the Ministry of Public Security and the People's Liberation Army (PLA), has expanded its technology's applications to smart city projects, including the Xiong'an initiative championed by President Xi Jinping. Eyecool also collaborates closely with China's Ministry of State Security. The company reportedly adds 2 million facial images daily to Skynet, China’s mass video surveillance network. Eyecool Technology maintains a global presence with subsidiaries in the Netherlands, United States, and India, while also exploring opportunities in Malaysia.
Skynet, Techshino, Eyecool Shenzhen Technology
United States
FaceFirst, also known as Airborne Biometrics, is a developer of facial recognition and surveillance technologies, providing automated face-matching systems for use in retail, airports, stadiums, military bases and at border checkpoints. Its facial recognition technology has increasingly been deployed in retail stores without customer knowledge or consent. The system scans shoppers' faces as they enter stores, comparing them to databases of "dishonest customers" or "known shoplifters." The system also delivers customizable alerts and notifications to any device or workstation upon detecting a person of interest. The company claims to offer military-grade facial identification that seamlessly connects to a large central database tailored to the specific needs of the end user. In 2022, FaceFirst welcomed Edwin Coello, a former leader of the NYPD Real Time Crime Center, to its team.
Airborne Biometrics, Samsung
Israel
FalcoNet is a surveillance technology developed by the Israeli firm Cognyte, designed as a cell tower simulator capable of intercepting and collecting data from mobile phones. It functions as an airborne system, deployable on manned aircraft like helicopters or fixed-wing planes, and is used to gather unique identifiers from phones, intercept unencrypted communications, and jam normal signals to force devices to connect to its artificial station. The State of Florida purchased this technology for $793,000 as part of Operation Vigilant Sentry, aimed at surveilling migrants, particularly from Haiti.
Cognyte
China
The Falcon system, developed by Semptian, is primarily designed for tracking the location of targeted cellphones rather than intercepting calls or texts. Similar to the Stingray devices used by U.S. law enforcement, Falcon operates within a nearly 1-mile radius and can pinpoint the location of cellphones with high precision, up to 5 meters accuracy. When activated, Falcon emits signals that compel nearby mobile phones and other cellular devices to connect to it, revealing their exact locations. Falcon includes a smaller, pocket-sized device that can be used by agents on foot to track cellphone locations even more precisely, narrowing down to within 1 meter. This technology enables authorities to conduct targeted surveillance and locate specific individuals within urban or densely populated areas.
China
FiberHome, officially known as Nanjing FiberHome StarrySky Communication Development Company Ltd., develops spyware for use by the Chinese authorities. Its Fengcai app is forcibly installed on tourists' smartphones at border crossings in the East Turkistan (renamed Xinjiang by China) region. This spyware collects extensive personal data, including text messages, contacts, call logs, calendar entries, and installed apps, and transmits it to remote servers for analysis. The app also scans for content flagged as suspicious, such as religious materials, writings in Arabic, or documents related to the Dalai Lama, among other flagged items.
Fengcai app
Israel
Founded in 2014 by former Mossad member Doron Cohen, Fifth Dimension became a leading producer of surveillance technology with the backing of notable figures such as former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who served as the company's chairman, and former Mossad deputy head Ram Ben-Barak. The company's systems are employed to analyze vast amounts of data, including social media activity, to identify potential security threats and prevent incidents before they occur. The company specializes in predictive policing tools and advanced data analysis, including sophisticated data processing techniques to identify patterns and correlations based on mass surveillance data. Fifth Dimension collaborated with the Israel Police on a project involving artificial intelligence for law enforcement purposes. This partnership, which did not go through a tender process, involved a pilot program costing about 4 million shekels ($1.1 million) and concluded in 2017. The initiative was described as a "game changer" by Police Chief Roni Alsheikh. However, Fifth Dimension ceased operations due to U.S. sanctions on one of its investors, Viktor Vekselberg, which affected its primary market in the U.S. The company ceased operations in December 2018, after an unsuccessful acquisition bid from NSO Group. At its height, Fifth Dimension had secured $40 million in funding and employed 100 people.
Germany
FinFisher, also known as FinSpy, is surveillance software developed by Gamma Group, an Anglo-German technology company specializing in surveillance and monitoring solutions. FinFisher has been used by various governments and law enforcement agencies around the world for surveillance purposes. The software is designed to monitor and intercept communications, gather intelligence, and track individuals' activities. FinFisher is known for its comprehensive surveillance capabilities, which include: remote access, data extraction of information such as emails, SMS, files, and browser history, real-time monitoring of communications and online activities, keylogging to capture passwords and other sensitive information, microphone and camera activiation to record audio and video, as well as geolocation tracking. Gamma Group dissolved its FinFisher unit in 2014, but several German companies have since sold the spyware.
FinSpy, FinFly, Gamma Group, Gamma International GmbH, Lench IT Solutions plc
Australia
Fivecast is a company that develops AI-powered software used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to analyze online content for potential threats. Utilizing artificial intelligence, Fivecast's software detects sentiment and emotion in social media posts and recognizes objects in images and videos. It also scans for "risk terms and phrases" across multiple languages, gathering data from both major social platforms like Facebook and Reddit, as well as smaller communities like 4chan and Gab. CBP has spent millions on Fivecast's technology, which they use to monitor individuals they believe may pose risks to public safety, national security, or lawful trade and travel. Fivecast's tools are capable of mapping out networks of connections and tracking persons-of-interest starting with minimal information, as demonstrated in their promotional materials. Fivecast is headquartered in Adelaide, Australia. The company was co-founded in 2017 by Brenton Cooper, Duane Rivett, Ross Buglak, and David Blockow. Fivecast has a strong connection to the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which includes agencies from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The company's tools have been developed in consultation with law enforcement and intelligence agencies from these Five Eyes nations, optimizing their software to meet the specific requirements of these agencies for monitoring and analyzing online threats.
Five Eyes Alliance
United States
FlexiSPY is a commercial spyware application that offers "stalkerware," a form of monitoring software which enables a remote user to track activities on another user's device, such as location data, call logs and messages. It is most often used to monitor an individual without their knowledge, consent or permission. Its website markets extensive features such as keylogging, browsing activities, GPS tracking and geofencing, call recording and interception, as well as all activities and messaging on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, Telegram, Tinder, and other applications.
United States
Flock Safety is a technology company that specializes in providing advanced surveillance solutions. Their products include Flock Camera, which are high-definition cameras placed to capture clear images of vehicles entering and exiting neighborhoods and which utilize automated license plate recognition (ALPR) technology to identify and log vehicle data, as well as AI-powered audio detection systems. They also feature FlockOS in their suite of products, which integrates first and third-party data from video, license plate recognition (LPR), and audio detection to provide real-time intelligence through advanced search, a customizable map and other options. In 2024, Flock Safety acquired drone startup Aerodome for over $300 million. This acquisition allows Flock Safety to broaden its reach into autonomous police drone surveillance.
Axon, Aerodome
United States
Fog Data Science, a data broker, sells location data about individuals to law enforcement agencies, obtained from thousands of apps on Android and iOS app stores. The company's web application, Fog Reveal, provides detailed histories of people's lives, selling access for less than $10,000 per year. In the U.S alone, Fog has past or ongoing contractual relationships with at least 18 local, state, and federal law enforcement clients. Fog's service allows for "pattern of life" analyses, revealing an individual's daily routines and habits. The service can execute broad searches, such as gathering device IDs for everyone in a specific area. The company also uses a "Project Intake Form" that requests detailed information about persons of interest, including their medical provider locations, and harvests location data from smartphones through apps and advertising systems. Critics, including former law enforcement officials, have expressed alarm over the tool’s ability to track individuals in private spaces, such as homes, without judicial oversight. The company was founded in 2016 by two former Department of Homeland Security officials, Robert Liscouski and Matthew Broderick, who served under President George W. Bush.
United Kingdom
G4S is a British multinational security services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It provides a wide range of security-related services, including manned guarding, electronic security systems, and monitoring services. G4S has been involved in providing surveillance tools for Australia's offshore immigration detention centers, such as those on Manus Island. It has also provided surveillance equipment and services to Israeli checkpoints, prisons and police stations in the West Bank and Gaza. G4S has been responsible for managing and providing surveillance equipment at several immigration detention centers in the UK, such as Brook House and Tinsley House, which suffer from staff abuse, neglect, mistreatment of detainees, and poor living conditions. In 2021, Allied Universal acquired G4S for $5.28 billion.
Allied Universal, Allied Universal Security Services LLC, G4S Secure Solutions, Hashmira, Argenbright Security, Securicor, Ronco Consulting Corp., AMAG Technology, Wackenhut, Total Security Services
Ghana
GMEA Group is a prominent African conglomerate headquartered in Ghana. They provide various surveillance technologies, including IMSI-catcher tools, which intercept mobile phone traffic and track user location data. These devices function as "fake" mobile towers, enabling interception between a mobile phone and its service provider's actual towers, facilitating man-in-the-middle attacks.
Redmango, Geronimo, Quantum Security Solutions, GDS Africa, Fleet Force, CIS Ghana, PortingXS, ImeiXS, Mobius Technologies, Moto Co Limited
Italy
GR Sistemi, an Italian company founded in 2002, has ventured into the online surveillance market in the last decade, although its history primarily lies in selling GPS trackers and traditional wiretapping services to law enforcement. GR Sistemi's entry into the spyware market has been marked by significant blunders and reliance on repurposed code. Their Dark Eagle spyware, which can hack into Skype and Messenger communications, contained blatant links to the company's website and utilized code from an open-source remote access tool, AndroRAT, which was identified by BitDefender.
United States
Gaggle is a Dallas, Texas based company that provides ongoing AI-powered surveillance in schools. The students' digital activities are closely monitored for indicators of certain behaviors. This surveillance includes homework, emails, photos, and chats, with alerts potentially leading to interventions that include police involvement. In some schools, Gaggle was integrated into all school-issued Chromebooks, working with Google services such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets. Whenever students type something, Google's auto-save feature activates, automatically routing the saved content through Gaggle for monitoring. As of May, 2024, Gaggle is currently in at least 1,500 K-12 districts in the U.S.
United Kingdom
Gamma Group is a U.K.-based firm that provides surveillance software to governments around the world. Among their products was FinFisher, also known as FinSpy, spyware marketed by Lench IT Solutions plc on Gamma Group's behalf.
Lench IT Solutions plc, Gamma TSE, G2 Systems, Gamma International GmbH, Elaman Alliance, FinSpy, FinFisher, FinFly
France
Gatewatcher is a cybersecurity firm specializing in advanced threat detection and network surveillance. Its tools, like Trackwatch, use machine learning and behavioral analysis to monitor and analyze network behavior. In 2024, Gatewatcher strengthened its collaboration with Saudi Arabia as part of the Franco-Saudi partnership on cybersecurity. The company provides advanced multi-vector detection technologies to the Saudi government. Gatewatcher has also been embroiled in controversy due to legal allegations against its founder, Philippe Gillet, who has been accused of hacking and orchestrating violent attacks amid a dispute with former business partner Franck Berezay.
AlJammaz Technologies
Lithuania
Gedion is a company headquartered in Lithuania which produces audio surveillance and location monitoring technology. In 2023, Gedion partnered with Pegasus Intelligence, a technology broker based in Dubai, to provide advanced surveillance equipment to primarily government clients in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC.)
Israel
General Robotics Ltd. (GRL), based in Hod Hasharon, Israel, specializes in developing advanced robotic systems for military and defense applications. One of its products, "Pitbull", can be mounted on various platforms for remote surveillance activities. It was acquired in March, 2022 by the American company Sig Sauer, one of the world's leading arms, ammunition, and optical sights companies.
Canada
Genetec is a prominent provider of surveillance technology, supplying law enforcement with a range of invasive monitoring tools. Their offerings include video management systems, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) software, and real-time crime center (RTCC) analytics to expand police surveillance networks. Genetec also leads a program to facilitate the process for law enforcement agencies to request and retrieve footage from private cameras. In 2017, Genetec developed the Citigraf platform specifically for the Chicago Police Department (CPD), one of the largest police forces in the U.S., to help manage and analyze their extensive data collection. Powered by Microsoft Azure, Citigraf integrates information from surveillance sensors and database records, using both real-time and historical data to generate calculations, visualizations, and alerts that provide CPD with "deep situational awareness." Microsoft is collaborating with Genetec to advance this platform with a "correlation engine" designed to interpret surveillance data more effectively. In 2016, the city of Detroit in Michigan launched Project Green Light, which uses Genetec Stratocast and Microsoft Azure to stream surveillance footage from local businesses and other entities to the Detroit Police Department. Microsoft has long provided facial recognition services to law enforcement through its extensive partnerships with Genetic and similar companies.
Microsoft, Flock Safety
Israel
Genieo Innovation, formerly called Anabel Software, is an Israeli company that specializes in developing software often categorized as adware, grayware or malware. In 2014, Genieo was acquired by Somoto for $34 million.
Anabel Software, Somoto
United States
Geofeedia was hired by California police departments after pitching its ability to identify civil rights protesters, according to an American Civil Liberties Union report. Without public hearings or civilian oversight, the Oakland Police Department has used it to conduct surveillance on large public gatherings, possibly including political protests.
United States
Ghost Robotics is a Philadelphia-based company that specializes in the development of advanced robotics systems, particularly focused on legged robots. Ghost Robotics' robots, like the Ghost Minitaur and others in their lineup, are equipped and utilized for surveillance purposes. The Israeli army has been using the company’s robots in Gaza, according to news reports in Haaretz and other sources. Its Vision 60 Quadrupedal Unmanned Ground Vehicles (Q-UGVs) have been deployed by the U.S. military for various applications. The U.S. Air Force has utilized these robotic systems at Tyndall Air Force Base and during Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) exercises. In 2024, Ghost Robotics entered a "strategic partnership" with South Korea's LIG Nex1, which acquired a 60% controlling stake in the company for $240 million.
LIG Nex1
United States
Giant Oak Inc. is a U.S.-based company that develops data analytics and monitoring technologies. Their primary product, Giant Oak Search Technology (GOST), is a tool designed to analyze and filter large amounts of online data, including social media, to identify individuals and networks of interest. Founded by Gary Shiffman, a former U.S. Navy veteran and DARPA researcher, Giant Oak has received millions in U.S government contracts since 2014. These contracts include work with agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and others, for purposes such as immigration enforcement and intelligence investigations. Originally developed from earlier projects like "Social Locator," GOST creates detailed profiles by analyzing digital traces, highlighting keywords, and providing visual summaries of online activity. It has been used to flag "derogatory" content on social media. GOST also allows agencies to search for individuals using identifiers like names, addresses, or emails and ranks results based on specific requirements. Additionally, it can screen and rank large groups of individuals simultaneously. In February 2024, Saifr, a compliance solutions provider created by Fidelity Investments®, announced the acquisition of GOST.
Saifr
Egypt
Giza Systems is a partner of Nexign, formerly known as Peter-Service, a Russian company that specializes in providing software and services for telecommunications companies. According to its website, Nexign’s products have been delivered to 12 countries and includes the surveillance company Protei as a partner. In a press release, data collection is listed as one of the services that will be provided as part of the partnership between Giza Systems and Nexign.
Nexign, Protei, Peter-Service
United States
Glimmerglass was a U.S.-based technology company that built optical networking products, including technology that facilitates the interception of undersea fiber-optic cables. These cables form the backbone of global internet communications, carrying vast amounts of data across continents. Glimmerglass has reportedly provided systems capable of monitoring and analyzing internet traffic, including services like Facebook, Twitter and Gmail. Their technology included 3D MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) solutions, which allow for the interception and duplication of light signals transmitted through fiber-optic cables. This enables agencies to capture the full content of communications, not just metadata, for intelligence purposes. The company has acknowledged that its systems are deployed in multiple countries for "lawful interception" under anti-terrorism laws. Its tools are marketed as providing intelligence agencies with full control over massive flows of data, including the ability to analyze communications in real time. Confidential materials from Glimmerglass have demonstrated its ability to map social networks, monitor webmail, and even listen to phone calls. The company reportedly shut down in 2019.
IPS/RESI
United States
Gravy Analytics is a company that provides location intelligence and data analytics services. It's the parent company of Venntel, which sells smartphone location data, including to U.S. government agencies. It provides detailed location data that can help law enforcement agencies understand patterns of movement and behavior in specific areas. In 2023, Gravy Analyrics merged with Unacast, a company that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide location intelligence products. In January 2024, hackers claim to have breached the company. The hackers allege they have stolen sensitive data such as customer lists, industry information, and precise location data from smartphones, threatening to release it publicly.
Venntel, Unacast
United States
Graylark Technologies is the developer of a tool called GeoSpy. According to 404 Media, GeoSpy is a powerful AI tool capable of geolocating photos within seconds by analyzing features such as vegetation, architecture, and building distances. Initially accessible to the public, the tool has since been restricted to law enforcement and government agencies after concerns arose about its misuse, including stalking. GeoSpy has drawn attention for its ability to simplify complex geolocation tasks that typically require years of expertise, making it accessible to users with minimal training.
GeoSpy, Maltego
United States
Grayshift, an American company best known for its tools to unlock encrypted mobile devices, has reportedly supplied its technology to Belarusian authorities to hack into locked mobile devices, aiding the Belarusian government in its extensive surveillance operations. These measures include real-time video monitoring systems and direct access to communications data.
Sweden
Griffeye is the Swedish developer behind Griffeye Analyze Deep Pro, a multi-source data analysis system for police forces. According to the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) of Serbia purchased Griffeye facial recognition software in 2022. Griffeye Analyze DI Pro can recognize faces based only on the eyes, even when the eyes are not visible under certain conditions. It can also download large amounts of personal data from the internet and then search, sort, cross, and process it based on metadata such as GPS coordinates, the time when an image was taken, or phone serial numbers. Europol has used the software since 2019. The Griffeye Analyze platform is used by over 1,000 police agencies across the world. Magnet Forensics, a developer of digital investigation technologies used in over 90 countries, acquired Griffeye in August, 2023.
Magnet Forensics
United Arab Emirates
Group 42, more commonly known as G42, is a UAE-based artificial intelligence whose staff include former members of DarkMatter, which was staffed by former NSA operatives who conducted hacking and surveillance on behalf of the United Arab Emirates under the codename "Project Raven." Human rights advocates and journalists are often targeted. Among them was G42 CEO Peng Xiao, who for years ran DarkMatter’s Pegasus program. In 2021, three former U.S. intelligence and military officials admitted to providing sophisticated computer hacking technology to the UAE while working at DarkMatter. The firm has established a joint venture with state-owned Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. G42 has been linked to surveillance through its acquisition of UAE’s Botim app, which is officially promoted as a secure messaging and VoIP platform but has been reported to facilitate government monitoring of users' communications. Botim was developed by Algento, a private American technology company headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company operates subsidiaries in Dubai (Algento DMCC), Beijing (Beijing Aojintuo), and Hong Kong (Algento Cloud Computing Limited).
AIQ, Bayanat, Core42, Hayat Biotech, Khazna Data Centers, M42, Presight, NSO Group, Project Raven, DarkMatter, Astra Tech, Algento
China
H3C Technologies, also known as New H3C, is a joint venture originally established between Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) and China-based Unisplendour Corporation, a subsidiary of the state-owned Tsinghua Holdings. H3C's technology is deeply embedded in China's extensive surveillance system. The company has developed an internet protocol (IP) telephone network for the Xinjiang Public Security authorities, a key component of the region's repressive monitoring network. This system integrates mobile apps, biometric data collection, artificial intelligence, and big data to monitor and control the activities of millions of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. H3C also sells internet firewall products.
Intel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), 3Com
Hong Kong
HK Medsourcing is a company that sells International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, an intrusive technology used to locate and track all mobile phones that are switched on within a specific area. It operates by masquerading as a mobile antenna, which tricks nearby phones into connecting to it. A significant concern with IMSI catchers is their frequent secret deployment, often lacking a clear legal foundation and the safeguards and oversight mechanisms that international human rights law mandates for other surveillance technologies.
United States
HSS Development, formerly known as Homeland Security Strategies, is a New York-based intelligence and security technology provider offering surveillance products, including IMSI Catcher systems. According to Intelligence Online, it supplied surveillance technologies to clients such as Niger's Armed Forces (FAN) and Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). HSS markets its products through subsidiaries like GCom Tech, a surveillance technology distributor, and Commtrol, a jamming systems provider.
GCom Tech, Commtrol
Italy
Hacking Team is an Italian company known for selling surveillance tools and spyware to police and intelligence agencies around the world. Hacking Team’s marquee product, Remote Control System (RCS), can be deployed using exploits to a target’s computer or cell phone, with the ability to track an individual’s movements, log their keystrokes, and even activate their computer camera. Hacking Team's former chairman, Paolo Lezzi, became the owner of Memento Labs and its parent company, InTheCyber, to continue developing surveillance software marketed to repressive regimes worldwide.
Memento Labs, InTheCyber, RCS
United Kingdom
Hakluyt & Company is a London-based intelligence agency known for its discreet operations and high-level clientele, including multinational corporations and governments. The firm is notable for its ties to the intelligence community, as it is staffed predominantly by former officers from agencies such as MI6, the CIA, and other elite intelligence organizations. In 2001, BP and Shell were called out for hiring Hakluyt to spy on Greenpeace activists. In 2021, Hakluyt opened a subsidiary in Dubai called Hakluyt & Company (Middle East) FZE.
MI6, CIA, BP, Shell
China
Hanwang Technology, also known by its English name Hanvon, is a publicly traded Chinese tech company founded in 1998 by Liu Yingjian, a former communications specialist in the People's Liberation Army. Initially focused on handwriting recognition, Hanwang used funding from China’s 863 Program to expand its technologies. Hanwang has refocused its efforts on artificial intelligence, particularly facial recognition technology, becoming a prominent partner of China’s Ministry of Public Security (Gonganbu). Its products include mask-compatible facial recognition. This system uses advanced algorithms and thermal sensors to analyze visible facial features, such as the eyes and forehead, to confirm identities. It has been used to monitor public spaces and track individuals in crowded areas.
Hanvon
United States
Hawk Analytics is the developer of CellHawk. Widely used by law enforcement agencies, private investigators, and legal teams, CellHawk processes extensive datasets from cellular providers, including call detail records (CDRs), location data, and tower dumps, to create detailed maps of individuals' movements, relationships, and communication patterns. Its capabilities extend to analyzing ride-hailing and GPS data, offering features like animation tools to visualize movement and alerts for specific geofenced areas. The software has been employed in high-profile cases, such as tracking phone activity in investigations tied to Donald Trump’s legal battles. Trump's team used CellHawk to analyze phone records of a prosecutor, revealing thousands of calls and texts, and mapping their locations.
CellHawk
China
The HawkEye device, developed by Semptian and sold to governments, is a portable surveillance platform that integrates advanced facial recognition technology. It is designed to be deployed in various locations to establish what the company calls a "temporary surveillance scene." HawkEye operates by scanning individuals as they pass by its camera, capturing images of their faces in real time. These images are then compared against extensive databases containing millions of photographs. If a match is found with a person of interest or a suspect in the database, HawkEye triggers an alert, notifying authorities immediately.
China
Chinese authorities are using a mobile app for mass surveillance of Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The app is developed by Hebei Far East Communication System Engineering Co. Ltd (HBFEC). The app collects personal data, biometrics, and tracks "suspicious" behavior. It is linked to the Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP), which monitors personal relationships and detects "irregularities." The IJOP system is developed by state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, (CETC), a major state-owned military contractor in China.
China
HiSilicon is a subsidiary of China’s Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. which sells chips with advanced capabilities for surveillance cameras. It is one of the world’s most dominant chipmaker in the surveillance camera industry.
United Kingdom
Hiddentec develops GPS tracking equipment that provide real-time information. The company's HT Pro software is a feature-rich platform for tracking and monitoring data. The software displays incoming messages from trackers in a filterable, tabular format and shows available GPS information on a mapping screen. According to its official website, Hiddentec's surveillance equipment and trackers are in use globally within law enforcement, military, and government institutions. MetOcean Telematics acquired Hiddentec Group in August, 2022.
IntellSec, MetOcean Telematics
China
The Chinese government uses Hikvision's AI-enbaled technology for mass surveillance and racial profiling. Beginning in 2016, authorities installed tens of thousands of Hikvision surveillance cameras in Ürümqi to monitor every movement of the Uyghur population in East Turkistan (renamed Xinjiang by China). The company was found to have received at least $275 million in government contracts to build surveillance in the region and has developed AI cameras that can detect physical features of Uyghur ethnicity. With over 600,000 Hikvision networks, the United States has the second-highest number of the company’s cameras, followed by Vietnam. In 2019, the US passed a bill banning Hikvision from holding any contracts with the federal government. A Reuters report revealed that Myanmar's military junta installed Chinese-built facial recognition cameras in key urban centers to strengthen its surveillance capabilities, with technology provided by Hikvision alongside other Chinese surveillance giants, Zhejiang Dahua Technology and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. Hikvision is one of China's largest exporters of surveillance cameras and facial recognition tools.
Pyronix Ltd
China
Hocell is a company that provides surveillance tools, including a Drone-Mounted IMSI Catcher, a Portable IMSI Catcher and a Vehicle-Mounted IMSI Catcher, that can search and track cell phones as well as locate targets by identifying their IMSI numbers. The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China.
Israel
Hola VPN is widely speculated to be spyware by independent reviewers. It logs all of your online activity, shares your information, and doesn’t encrypt your connection.
China
Horizon Robotics develops AI-powered surveillance technologies, including facial recognition cameras and smart city solutions. According to company sources, its HR-IPC2143 smart camera achieves facial recognition accuracy up to 99.7% and can detect, track, and identify up to 200 objects in real time. These systems are designed for mass monitoring applications, such as identifying targets in crowded areas or large events. The cameras use Horizon's proprietary "Sunrise" AI processor, which integrates algorithms, chips, and cloud systems for efficient video analysis. The company also collaborates with state-owned enterprises and government initiatives in China, such as the 973 Program, also known as the National Basic Research Program of China.
United Kingdom
Hugslock is a surveillance technology company that developed the iNTACT (Intelligent Access Cover & Support System), a monitoring system disguised as ordinary manhole covers. Their system incorporates capabilities such as infrared surveillance and motion detection. The company made its first major deployment in Saudi Arabia, shipping 60 iNTACT units as part of a smart city project.
China
I-Soon is a Shanghai-based cybersecurity vendor with government ties. Reports suggest that it carried out global attacks on a series of high-value government targets and dissidents in 2021 and 2022, in part by breaching WiFi networks and devices.
United States
IBM used New York's CCTV cameras footage without public knowledge to develop surveillance software. The software can search for individuals based on age, gender, and skin tone. IBM's video analytics software was first acquired by the NYPD through Microsoft subsidiary Vexcel in 2007 and began testing in 2010. By 2012, IBM was testing the software on the bodies and faces of New Yorkers to improve its search functionality. The NYPD says it stopped using IBM’s technology in 2016, and IBM did not respond to a request for comment on whether or not they're deploying similar technology in other cities or countries.
France
IDEMIA, formerly known as Morpho, is a French multinational for advanced biometric and predictive analytics technologies often used for surveillance purposes. Its Traveler Analytics Suite is used to analyze passenger data, such as Passenger Name Records (PNR), at international borders. In the United States, IDEMIA provides products to various federal and state government entities and is the leading provider in the issuance of driver's licenses. The company owns IdentoGO, which operates hundreds of storefronts offering electronic fingerprint capture and other identity-related services. The ACLU of Massachusetts reported that IDEMIA released a new video analytics product called Augmented Vision, enabling cameras to analyze people and their movements in real-time. The system includes algorithms capable of recognizing faces, silhouettes, vehicles, number plates, and various objects. Notably, its automated "access control system" can identify a "person of interest," provide direct alerts, and automatically deny that person access to specific areas. According to Amnesty International, its facial recognition technology was sold to the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, contributing to China’s extensive surveillance infrastructure, including systems targeting Uyghurs and other minority groups in East Turkestan (renamed to Xinjiang by China.)
SITA, Otono Networks, PCARD, XCore Technologies, IdentoGO, Morpho Security System (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
Italy
IPS (Intelligence Positioning Solutions) is an Italian company specializing in the development and provision of advanced communication monitoring tools and GPS tracking. IPS caters specifically to Homeland Security Departments and Intelligence Agencies, providing capabilities for intercepting, collecting, and extensively analyzing diverse data types. These include phone calls, Internet traffic, data from electronic surveillance devices, and information sourced from third-party databases. Their operations cover a wide range of online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter) and GitHub. A customer in Tunisia leveraged IPS's services to conduct phishing and social engineering attacks, including IP tracking, demonstrating how the surveillance-for-hire firm provides a full spectrum of tools for invasive surveillance.
Cyprus
InReach was set up as a business entity in Cyprus for the sole purpose of promoting QuaDream’s surveillance products outside of Israel. QuaDream is an Israeli company that specializes in the development and sale of advanced digital offensive technology to government clients. The company is known for its spyware marketed under the name “Reign”, which, like NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, reportedly utilizes zero-click exploits to hack into target devices.
QuaDream
Spain
Indra has been involved in providing surveillance and border control technologies that have been criticized for their potential use in oppressive and discriminatory practices, particularly in regions with stringent controls on migration and dissent.
United States
Infinova Corporation, headquartered in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, is a global provider of advanced surveillance technologies, including CCTV systems, IP cameras, facial recognition systems, deep-learning algorithms, multi-angle recognition and AI-driven analytics. It's heavily involved in China's expansive surveillance programs, such as the "Sharp Eyes" platform and projects in regions like Xinjiang to target Uyghurs. Infinova deleted all articles about its Xinjiang projects from its Chinese website, though IPVM (The Authority On Physical Security Technology) retained copies. Infinova has also been involved in major mass surveillance projects globally, including in countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Mexico, India and the UAE.
Shenzhen Infinova Limited, March Networks
Canada
Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer Inkas is a provider of surveillance and interception technologies through its Aerospace & Defense division, established in September 2021. This division markets a comprehensive catalogue of advanced interception systems, including Wi-Fi interception tools, IMSI-catchers, geolocation systems, and other interception products. Inkas also has partnerships in Israel, where it collaborated with former Unit 8200 officer Eyal Avidov to expand into electronic systems integration and platform-mounted electro-optical systems. The company has supplied surveillance-enabled armoured vehicles to police forces in Nigeria, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and beyond.
India
Innefu Labs, an Indian cybersecurity and artificial intelligence company, has faced scrutiny for its involvement in surveillance technologies and alleged links to spyware attacks. Amnesty International uncovered connections between Innefu Labs and the Donot Team, a notorious hacker group responsible for targeting activists with spyware. This spyware, used in attacks on a Togolese human rights defender, could access sensitive data, including photos, files, and encrypted messages. The company also provides the facial recognition software AI Vision, used by police in several Indian states for surveillance purposes, including during protests. This technology, which incorporates gait and body analysis, has sparked debates about privacy and the potential for misuse in monitoring dissent. Their clients include the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) in India.
AI Vision
Italy
Innova S.p.A is an Italian cyber-intelligence company that develops surveillance and interception technologies. It was founded in 2003 and chaired by Nicola Salina, a former technical director of the Italian interception company RT Radio Trevisan. Innova's most marketed product is the EGO spyware for mobile interceptions and which is used by Italian law enforcement agencies. In a product catalogue leaked by WikiLeaks, the company also offers tools for intercepting fixed and mobile telephone communications, decoding wired and wireless internet traffic (e.g., web browsing, emails, social networks, and video chats), and tracking mobile targets in real time using GPS systems. In addition, it offers high-quality audio monitoring devices, such as the MicroIP, which uses advanced protocols to avoid detection and ensures uninterrupted recording with internal memory capable of storing up to 264 hours of audio. Innova’s EGO system is a modular platform capable of intercepting up to 1,000 targets simultaneously, managing telephone, internet, and audio communications with advanced data analysis and directory management tools. Innova also develops customized probes for capturing raw data at speeds up to 10 Gb/sec and decoders for translating intercepted information into detailed intelligence.
RT Radio Trevisan
Netherlands
Inpedio received millions in investments from the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI.) IAI made the investment through its Singaporian subsidiary, Custodio PTE. According to Haaretz, employeers at Inpedia were involved in developing Predator in Cytrox offices. Inpedio was registered in the Netherlands in 2016 by Rotem Farkash and Abraham Rubinstein, who also established Cytrox Holdings in Hungary.
Cytrox, Intellexa
Israel
Insanet is an Israeli company that uses advertising technology to infiltrate devices and surveil users. Insanet reportedly collaborated with Candiru, an Israeli spyware manufacturer sanctioned in the US, to market their surveillance software, Sherlock, alongside Candiru's own spyware products. Unlike traditional spyware that exploits system vulnerabilities or requires user interaction, Sherlock embeds spyware into targeted advertisements. When these ads are displayed on a webpage viewed by the target, the spyware is silently installed on their device, including Windows computers, Android phones, and iPhones. Sherlock's capabilities include monitoring, data capture, and transmission, Insanet also worked with Israeli cyber-intelligence, cloud infiltration specialist Paragon, which claimed to have the power to remotely break into encrypted instant messaging communications through its tool Graphite. According to Haaretz, "the company is owned by former ranking members of the defense establishment, including a past head of the National Security Council, Dani Arditi." The same report by Haaretz also notes that "Insanet has succeeded in obtaining authorization from the Defense Ministry to sell their technology globally. It has already sold the capability to one country that is not a democracy."
Candiru, Sherlock, Paragon
United States
Insitu, founded in 1994 and now a subsidiary of Boeing, provides drone technology used for surveillance purposes. Its flagship product is ScanEagle, which provides real-time intelligence and civilian surveillance missions. ScanEagle is heavily marketed to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Boeing
Israel
Maor Sellek and Ziv Haba, two former employees of Israeli firm NSO Group behind Pegasus spyware, have teamed with business development specialist Oshrat Kakon Faribai to found the start-up IntelEye. According to Israel Hayom, "Inteleye an intelligence firm specialized in gathering dark web and encrypted messaging data while cooperating with global governments."
NSO Group, Dream Security, Group 11
Serbia
IntellSec is a supplier of intelligence technology for government and industry contracts. Founded in 2017 by Milan Blagojevic, IntellSec distributes interceptions, geolocation, and digital forensics technologies, as well as bugsweeping tools. The company primarily serves as an intermediary for European and Israeli technology, with ties to the British geolocation firm Hiddentec and the US-Israeli startup D-Fend Solutions. In February 2025, a director of IntellSec was arrested in connection with corruption charges related to the state energy company EPS. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) reported that IntellSec participated in tenders in which EPS obtained sophisticated surveillance equipment and software.
Hiddentec, D-Fend Solutions
Greece
The Intellexa Consortium is a web of holding companies and vendors for spyware and surveillance services, such as Cytrox and Nexa. The group, with companies in Greece, Ireland, North Macedonia, and Hungary, enables the proliferation of commercial spyware and surveillance technologies worldwide, including to authoritarian regimes. Each company within the Intellexa Group maintains business relationships with numerous other entities within the group, many of which incorporate the "Intellexa" name in various capacities. Through one of its affiliated companies, Intellexa Group oversees the distribution and support of the Predator spyware service. Predator is designed to infiltrate, monitor, and extract data from targeted devices. Installation can occur through "zero-click" or "one-click" methods. In a zero-click scenario, a victim's mobile browser is covertly redirected to a malicious website. Alternatively, one-click infections involve victims unwittingly clicking on malicious links, such as those disguised as legitimate websites. Once installed, Predator enables remote access to monitor the target device, control local microphones and cameras, and extract various forms of data, including files, messages, and location information. Predator has been reportedly sold to governments implicated in human rights abuses.
Cytrox Holdings Zrt, Cytrox AD, Balinese Ltd, Peterbald Ltd, Thalestris Limited, Aliada Group Inc, Nexa Group, Intellexa Alliance, Senpai Technologies Ltd, Trovicor, Advanced Middle East Systems, Serpikom, Setco Technology Solutions Ltd
Israel
Intelos, also known as Adhoc, is an Israeli firm specializing in geolocation tracking and spyware distribution through online advertising. The company has established a significant presence in Asia, particularly with its operations in Hong Kong. Founded by Eric Banoun, co-founder of Israeli spyware firm Circles, and Roy Shloman, a former partner at surveillance firm Senpai Technologies, Intelos is also partially owned by Hong Kong-based Colibri Technologies, which Banoun founded in 2017. Shloman's Senpai is best known for helping Malaysia's government spy on opposition.
Circles, Colibri Technologies, Senpai Technologies, Adhoc
United States
Intrado, formerly known as West Corporation, is the company behind Beware, a surveillance tool used by police departments to analyze data from various sources, including social media. It assigns "threat levels" to residents based on their publicly available social media activity. Since it was revealed that it was being used by the Fresno Police Department in California, the ACLU has raised concerns about its accuracy, potential for misuse, and the lack of transparency around its use.
Beware, West Corporation
Israel
IntuView have contracts with Saudi Arabia for efforts that include scanning Saudi citizens' data. Its advisory board consists of a former head of Mossad and a former director of the CIA.
China
Iristar is a Chinese company that develops facial and iris recognition technologies, with strong ties to China's government. According to Intelligence Online, it collaborates with other major Chinese tech and surveillance firms like Huawei, Hanwang and Megvii.
Huawei, Megvii, Hanwang
Mexico
Ismallcell Biz in Mexico is a manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of surveillance and communication interception technologies. Based in Mexico City, the company develops and distributes products such as GSM IMSI Catchers, Active GSM Interceptors, and Small Cell devices, which are used for intercepting, tracking, and recording mobile network signals.
Israel
Israel Aerospace Industries is a defense company based in Israel. In recent years, it has been involved in significant developments and collaborations, including surveillance deals with the United Arab Emirates through drone-development deals with Edge Group, a government-owned defense company in the UAE.
Elta Systems, IAI International Inc, Bedek Aviaition Group, BlueBird Aero Systems Ltd, Tsg It Advanced Systems, IAI North America Inc, Intracom Defense S.A.
Canada
JSI Telecom is a surveillance and analytics company. It holds significant contracts with U.S. federal agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and provides support for the agency's "Title III digital collection system," enabling the interception of wire, oral, and electronic communications, including calls, texts, and emails. Since 2014, JSI Telecom has facilitated ICE's use of Title III orders, which can be issued for a wide range of purposes. In addition to its work with ICE, JSI Telecom also holds contracts with the FBI and has been implicated in a clandestine surveillance program involving multiple police forces across Ontario, Canada. According to its website, JSI Telecom provides services to over 30 countries worldwide. In addition to its headquarters in Canada, it has offices in the U.S, Germany, and Australia.
United States
Jacobs Technology is a provider of surveillance tools, including cell-site simulators (CSS), to law enforcement and intelligence agencies. These devices, often referred to as "Stingrays," allow authorities to intercept cell phone data and track locations covertly. Jacobs, which acquired the manufacturer KeyW in 2019, has deployed over 300 such simulators globally, including in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Jacobs' simulators are designed for covert use, often mounted in vehicles for mobile deployment. They support cellular and Wi-Fi data collection across 2G to 5G networks and are expandable for future capabilities.
KeyW, StreetLight Data, BlackLynx, Apprion, The Van Dyke Technology Group, Blue Canopy Group LLC, CH2M Hill, Sula Systems, Exakis
Germany
Jenoptik is the German company behind TraffiCatch, a mass surveillance tool designed to capture Bluetooth and wireless signals emitted by everyday devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, earbuds, and car entertainment systems. Recently deployed at the U.S. border, this tool enables real-time tracking of individuals by associating wireless signals with vehicles identified through license plate readers.
TraffiCatch, Prodomax Automation, Five Lakes Automation, Vysionics ITS, EPIGAP Optronic
Israel
Jenovice Cyber Labs is an Israeli surveillance technology company founded in 2012 by Israeli intelligence veteran Leon Perez and special forces veteran Tal Gleichger. It offers products like Metropolink, a surveillance system capable of monitoring entire cities by tracking devices through Wi-Fi identifiers such as MAC addresses and geolocation. Its other products include Piranha, a compact, fully automatic Wi-Fi interception device that can operate remotely, and Orion, a geolocation tool designed to track and locate devices by leveraging Wi-Fi signals. In addition to citywide surveillance, Jenovice has developed Prisonlink, a tool for monitoring unauthorized devices in prisons, and Achilles Cloud Interception, a system designed to extract cloud account information from services like iCloud and Google. The company primarily serves law enforcement, national security agencies, and military intelligence sectors globally.
Piranha, Metropolink, Prisonlink, Achilles Cloud Interception
China
Jingwang Weishi is a mobile application designed by Shanghai Landasoft Data Technology Inc. that is utilized for content control purposes, notably by authorities in Xinjiang, China. Residents are required to install the JingWang app, which scans devices for specific files. Cybersecurity researchers found that the app has poor security practices, transferring data without encryption and sending sensitive device information and file metadata to a remote server in China. The app scans for files using MD5 hashes and threatens users with detention for not complying.
Turkey
KİM, meaning "Who" in Turkish, is an app primarily designed for intelligence operations. It can reportedly identify individuals within seconds by taking their photograph, accessing personal data such as names and ID numbers from a centralized database. Former Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu publicly demonstrated the app in 2023, boasting about the state's extensive surveillance capabilities. Soylu claimed that daily government searches using the app had increased from 400 to over 1,000.
United States
Kaseware is a Denver-based software company that facilitates surveillance activities for law enforcement and other agencies. Its co-founders helped build the FBI’s investigation management solution in the U.S. Partnered with ShadowDragon and Microsoft, Kaseware provides a centralized investigative platform that integrates diverse data sources, including open-source intelligence (OSINT) from social media, websites, and other online platforms. This platform supports activities such as behavior analysis, predictive policing, and mapping the social graph and relationships of targets. Kaseware’s platform is used alongside ShadowDragon tools like SocialNet and OIMonitor, which allow for real-time monitoring of individuals across over 120 online platforms, including social media, dating apps, and the dark web.
ShadowDragon, Microsoft
Israel
Kavit Electronics Industries Ltd, based in Israel, is a developer and distributor of electronic surveillance and communication interception technologies. Their products include IMSI catchers, which are used to intercept mobile communications, track devices, and gather intelligence. According to its official website, the company's clients include the Israeli Security Services, Brazilian Police, Mexican Army, Nigerian Air Force, United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, US Police, Spanish Police, Italian Air Force, Royal Thai Army, and South Korean Military.
Motorola
China
Kedacom is a company headquartered in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China and which specializes in surveillance and video technology. It has been actively involved in policing services through its advanced surveillance systems. Kedacom's technology is prominently used by the Dubai Police Department, where it has introduced a solution that combines mobile technology with artificial intelligence. This includes high-performance front-end cameras, artificial intelligence systems, and various devices such as body-worn cameras, 4G PTZ cameras, in-vehicle NVRs, and control pads. These components are integrated with a video surveillance platform to enable real-time video and audio acquisition, storage, and review. The technology works by utilizing facial and vehicle recognition capabilities, allowing for real-time video transmission to police command centers. The system also supports deep learning algorithms and big data analysis. Kedacom also offers the Falcon Human Recognition System, supporting up to 500,000 cameras and a face/human detection comparison library of up to 10 million entries, according to the company's official website. It boasts a face recognition accuracy of up to 98% and supports various camera types, including Kedacom's own and third-party IP cameras.
United Arab Emirates
Key Technologies, a company operating in the UAE and Greece, develops border surveillance and interception technologies. Founded in 2019 by Ferit Bonfil, a former expert in interception countermeasures, the company has gained support from Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners (ADCP), a joint venture between Mubadala Investment Company, a UAE-based sovereign wealth fund, and Falcon Edge Capital, a New York-based alternative asset manager which has rebranded itself as Alpha Wave Global. According to Intelligence Online, Key Technologies showcased its Theia border monitoring system at a Milipol security trade fair in Paris in 2021. Theia features advanced capabilities, including a German-engineered SX800 optically stabilized lens, night vision with infrared laser illumination, geolocation, and telemetry tools. Notably, the system avoids restrictions under the US ITAR regulations and can be remotely controlled via 4G/5G networks or IP Mesh radio technology from Domo Tactical Communications (DTC).
Domo Tactical Communications
India
Kommlabs is a company in India that provides a range of products including mass interception systems, GSM geolocation finders, data mining and analytics platforms. Its products include VerbaTRACK, which enables the real-time tracking of any mobile device that is switched on and the ability to monitor its location 24/7. It also includes VerbaPROBE, which enables intelligence agencies to gather information from a vast amount of data using analytical tools like multi-lingual OCR, free text search, speaker and language identification and advanced data mining techniques. Another product, VerbaCENTRE, is a monitoring centre solution that enables law enforcement agencies to intercept, monitor and analyze a target's voice, SMS, location and internet communications. It also offers ReveaLINX as a product, which is an interactive visual analytical tool that finds invisible relationships and exposes networks across millions of records from multiple databases, such as social associations of a target, the time and locations of all their whereabouts, and related information from cell tower dumps. The company claims to have offices in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
VerbaPROBE, VerbaTRACK, ReveaLINX, VerbaCENTRE, HarrierLOCATOR
Greece
Krikel is a preferred supplier of surveillance and spyware tools to the Greek law enforcement and security authorities. It supplied Cytrox's Predator spyware to Greece. It is also the Greek representative of RCS Lab, an Italian company selling surveillance software.
Predator, Cytrox, Intellexa
United States
L3Harris is a US defense contractor company. Formed through the merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation in 2019, L3Harris is known for its products in communication systems, avionics, space and airborne systems, and defense electronics. The company’s communication and surveillance products are used by law enforcement agencies for monitoring and intelligence operations. L3Harris is also a producer of surveillance tools like Stingray cell-site simulators. These devices mimic cell towers to intercept mobile phone signals, enabling the collection of sensitive data such as call metadata, location information, and, with additional software, even the content of communications. L3Harris was in talks to buy ownership of Pegasus software. As of February 2024, the company was in "mature talks" to set up a regional HQ in Saudi Arabia.
Hailstorm, ArrowHead, AmberJack, KingFish, NSO Group, Pegasus
Israel
Lavender is an AI system that produces lists of Palestinians to be targeted for assassination by the Israeli military "with little human oversight and a permissive policy for casualties", according to +972 Magazine.
China
Leon Technology Company Limited (Leon Technology) is one of the key companies that helped the PRC build the Integrated Joint Operations Platform, a surveillance system in Xinjiang. Leon Technology has multiple surveillance project contracts with the PRC, particularly in parts of the country with sizeable ethnic minority populations.
Russia
LianSpy disguises itself as system applications or financial services like the Alipay digital payments app. When the spyware operates as a system app, it automatically gains the necessary permissions for further exploitation, requesting access to screen overlay, notifications, background activity, contacts, and call logs. Once activated, LianSpy hides its icon from the home screen and runs silently in the background with administrator privileges. It discreetly monitors user activity by intercepting call logs, sending a list of installed applications to the attackers' server, and recording the smartphone's screen, particularly during messaging activities. According to researchers, LianSpy is a post-exploitation malware, indicating that the attackers either exploited an unknown vulnerability in Android devices or gained physical access to the victims' smartphones to modify the firmware.
Canada
LifeRaft is a social media intelligence company that provides tools for monitoring and analyzing online activity. Its platform is designed to scan large volumes of public social media posts, identify potential risks, and provide related intelligence. LifeRaft's technology has been tested by organizations like the Fresno Police Department in California, USA for social media surveillance purposes.
LightSpy is a sophisticated spyware framework, primarily targeting mobile devices. Initially discovered targeting iOS devices in 2020, LightSpy has recently expanded to include macOS and Android devices. It can steal contacts, messages, multimedia files, browser data, and device information. The spyware can also track GPS location, access the microphone and camera, record screen activity, execute shell commands, collect Wi-Fi data, and list running processes. It employs dynamic plugins and encryption to advance its capabilities and evade detection.
Israel
Logic Industries is an affiliate of AGT International (Asia Global Technologies), which partners closely with the government of the United Arab Emirates to provide a wide range of mass surveillance equipment.
AGT International
China
LongHope, a Chinese company, sells Wi-Fi hacking tools to law enforcement. LongHope's Wi-Fi WLAN Data Interception System (WWDIS) can snoop on Wi-Fi users, drop spyware, exploit mobile application vulnerabilities, and carry out man-in-the-middle attacks. LongHope also engages in HTTP injection by inserting iFrame code into websites, creating security vulnerabilities susceptible to Trojan dropping.
India
MASL (Millennium Automation Systems Limited, and formerly known as MAPL World) is a technology company that provides surveillance and smart city products. For the Delhi Police, MASL implemented a citywide surveillance system that uses Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) and Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR). The system is integrated with video analytics and a centralized command center designed for policing efforts.
United Kingdom
MCM Solutions, a U.K.-based surveillance technology company, manufactures the controversial Detego digital forensics system that enables authorities to extract and analyze data from multiple devices simultaneously. While the company claims to develop tools "for good" to address security challenges, their technology has raised privacy concerns, particularly in Ghana where they conducted advanced training for specialist units and supplied surveillance equipment to immigration services through British Immigration Enforcement, despite acknowledging they "cannot always control how a customer uses the software," according to a Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) investigation.
Detego
Israel
MER Group develops and sells a range of surveillance and cyber intelligence solutions, including tools for intercepting communications, extracting data from devices, and monitoring online activities. One of the company’s flagship surveillance projects is the ‘Mabat 2000’ project in the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem. The project includes an array of about 400 CCTV cameras deployed throughout the Old City and linked to a police Command and Control center that monitors residents’ movements 24/7. In addition, the company’s surveillance cameras have been installed at the Beit Iba checkpoint, the Sha’ar Ephraim checkpoint and at the Anatot army base in the occupied West Bank.
Promisec, CellO Wireless, Peak-Dynamics, Playcast Media Systems, Oplon Pure Science
Russia
A subsidiary of Citadel, MFI Soft is notable for its development of NetBeholder, a powerful surveillance tool that allows for detailed tracking and analysis of telecom subscriber data. This technology is employed to monitor communications and movements of individuals. It supplies solutions for tracking user traffic to the countries of the former Soviet Union, and through the Canadian company ALOE Systems (formerly MERA Systems) and used in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru, and Uruguay.
Citadel, Protei, ALOE Systems, MERA Systems, NetBeholder
Sweden
MSAB, a Swedish forensic technology company, has faced criticism for the use of its tools in controversial contexts. Its software, XRY, which can decrypt passwords and recover deleted data, was reportedly used by Hong Kong police in 2020 to access pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong's phone in under an hour. Leaked documents in 2021 showed that Myanmar's military junta used MSAB's technology to extract data from phones, including deleted content. In the U.S, the San Diego Police Department employs MSAB's XRY software to extract data from mobile devices in investigations. It's also used by the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB), among other government agencies. MSAB developed tools for CPB to gather information from vehicles at border crossings by extracting data from car infotainment systems. These systems store a wealth of information, including call logs, text messages, GPS locations, and paired device data. Its reseller in Hong Kong is S-Tech, which also sells surveillance tools from Oxygen Forensics and BlackBag (acquired by Cellebrite in 2020.)
S-Tech
Serbia
Macchina Security is a Belgrade-based firm that imports Chinese technology into Serbia and has been awarded contracts to supply public video surveillance and traffic monitoring systems to numerous municipalities. A 2023 investigation revealed that approximately one-third of local governments in Serbia utilize surveillance systems acquired from Chinese manufacturers like Dahua and Hikvision through Macchina Security.
Dahua, Hikvision
Israel
Madeye AI is an Israeli company specializing in advanced biometric and artificial intelligence solutions. The firm has gained attention for its role in implementing surveillance hardware at West Bank checkpoints, where Palestinians must undergo biometric monitoring when entering or exiting the region. The technology, which includes precision facial recognition along with fingerprint, retina, and palm scanning capabilities, was installed to enhance Israel's occupation and control over the Palestinian population. Despite its young age and limited public information, Madeye has secured contracts with major Israeli entities, including the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel National Cyber Directorate. The company's operations, particularly in the West Bank, have sparked concerns among human rights organizations, who note that this level of surveillance violates the privacy and digital rights of Palestinians, exacerbating the already restrictive conditions they face under the occupation.
Israel
An Israeli company specializing in high-tech security systems for fences and walls. Its systems are installed in the West Bank and Gaza walls. Now known as Senstar Technologies Corp.
Acquired by Aeronautics Ltd., a subsidiary of RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
Ukraine
Mathesis, a Ukrainian intelligence service provider, specializes in SIGINT (Signals Intelligence), AI-powered data analysis, and communication interception technologies. The company is best known for its Harvester platform, an AI-based multi-source mass data analysis tool designed for state security agencies. Mathesis has an active export strategy, supplying its SIGINT technologies to Malaysia (via Mindmatics Sdn Bhd), Italy (Italian Council of Ministers), and Kazakhstan (State Institute for International Research). These exports include systems like the Koala-4/48, which intercepts L-band satellite communications, and cellular network traffic monitoring tools. The company also collaborates with Covidence, a surveillance equipment provider, to improve its interception and communication products.
Harvester
Canada
Media Sonar specializes in providing advanced social media monitoring and analysis. Their platform helps law enforcement agencies to monitor social media and other online sources to gather intelligence. In 2016, the ACLU of California worked with local activists in Fresno, California to reveal that its police department was using a Media Sonar social media surveillance tool that boasted the capacity to identify so-called “threats to public safety” by monitoring hashtags such as #BlackLivesMatter, #DontShoot, #ImUnarmed, #PoliceBrutality, and #ItsTimeforChange.
China
Megvii, also known as Face++, is a leading facial recognition company in China. Its technology has been linked to the mass surveillance and arbitrary detention of Uyghurs in East Turkistan (renamed Xinjiang by China). Megvii has exported its facial recognition software to other countries, including Thailand and Pakistan. In compliance with Chinese regulations, Megvii is used to authenticate user identities on social platforms. Megvii's proprietary deep learning algorithm, called Brain++, continuously improves the system's accuracy and performance. Megvii's technology is also used to power China's Skynet system, which monitors public spaces with hundreds of millions of cameras.
Face++, Brain++, Skynet
China
Xiamen Meiya Pico Information Co., Ltd. (aka Meiya Pico) provides surveillance technologies for use by the Chinese authorities. Meiya Pico has developed a mobile application designed to track image and audio files, location data, and messages on ordinary citizens’ cellphones. The company has also collaborated with other entities to develop a transcription and translation tool for the Uyghur language to enable authorities to scan electronic devices for criminal content. In 2018, residents of East Turkistan (renamed Xinjiang by China) were required to download a desktop version of Meiya Pico’s surveillance software so authorities could monitor for "illicit activity". Its monitoring mobile app is called MFSocket. They recently changed their corporate name to SDIC Intelligence Xiamen.
MFSocket, SDIC Intelligence Xiamen
Italy
Memento Labs is a company that acquired the infamous spyware vendor Hacking Team, which sold its advanced surveillance technology, called Remote Control System (RCS), to governments and dictatorships worldwide. When researchers began to uncover information about Hacking Team’s operations, the primary targets were human rights activists and journalists. Hacking Team's former chairman, Paolo Lezzi, became the owner of Memento Labs and its parent company, InTheCyber. Memento Labs develops various snooping products, such as KRAIT, a surveillance tool that can silently infect any Android device without the target’s knowledge. It uses a "trusted implant" to appear as a legitimate source, making it easy to trick users into installing it. Once installed, KRAIT can steal passwords, monitor the device's location, microphone, camera, calls, and messages, all while hiding its activity through trusted online services. Another product, RCS X, is the latest version of a powerful spyware that has been used against journalists and human rights activists since 2012. It can infect almost any device, including macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and BlackBerry, using security vulnerabilities. Once installed, RCS X allows hackers to control microphones, cameras, and take screenshots, while managing all infections from a single console. At a monitoring conference in Dubai, Memento Labs introduced two new tools: MoniTOR and PrevenTer. PrevenTer is designed for speech recognition and transcribing call recordings. MoniTOR is aimed at helping law enforcement track activities by attempting to exploit any technical vulnerabilities to bypass anonymization methods used by the Tor network. However, these tools were not developed by the company itself, it was developed via a research collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) and funded by the Swiss Agency for Innovation Promotion, Innosuisse. SUPSI and Memento Labs' parent company, In The Cyber, have contractual agreements to jointly develop software products.
Hacking Team, InTheCyber
Israel
Formerly known as Equus Technologies, Merlinx is an Israeli spyware firm specializing in cyber infiltration tools, founded by former Israeli army technical intelligence specialists Matan Markovics, Daniel Hanga, and Tal Tchwella. In 2021, the company was acquired by Israeli-US cloud data company OwnBackup. Merlinx has gained attention for its collaboration with Bangladesh's National Security Intelligence (NSI), facilitated through a contract with Israeli-Cyprus integrator Prelysis, led by Amit Aisikowitz. Merlinx provides advanced surveillance tools, including its Apollo platform, which enables Wifi interception and phishing-based data extraction. The system can intercept unsecured URL communications, extract email identifiers, and deploy cyber agents capable of infiltrating Android devices to access data, activate GPS tracking, and log keystrokes. This technology is part of Bangladesh's tactical cyber intelligence operations, known to be used against journalists, dissidents and human rights defenders. Merlinx is now owned by Bindecy. Bindecy, co-founded by Eylon Ben Yaakov and Daniel Shapiro, has ties to the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm Toka, as both founders previously worked at KayHut, a company led by Toka's co-founder Kfir Waldman.
OwnBackup, Equus Technologies, Bindecy, Toka, KayHut
India
Mobineers, also known as Mobineers Info Systems, is an Indian technology company that develops smart-policing software. One of its tools is the E-Beat Book, a mobile application designed for foot-patrol officers, and which incorporates facial recognition technology to enable law enforcement to rapidly identify individuals by matching their facial data against existing databases.
E-Beat Book
Spain
Mollitiam Industries is a Spanish cybersecurity and surveillance company known for developing advanced intelligence and monitoring solutions. The company provides various tools and technologies aimed at enhancing security, intelligence gathering, and surveillance capabilities for both government and private sector clients. Those who have bought its surveillance tools include the Colombian armed forces, which have used them to illegally spy on supreme court judges, politicians, journalists, and journalists’ sources. The Colombian targets have included Alejandro Santos, the editor of the news magazine Semana, and some of his reporters after they published articles about crimes committed by the members of the military. In 2019 alone, Colombia’s military reportedly spent $800,000 on spyware from Mollitiam Industries.
Invisible Man, Night Crawler
United States
Mozenda is identified as one of the big data analysis tools that Serbian law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been using for surveillance purposes.
United Arab Emirates
Mulk International is a UAE-based multinational conglomerate that is spearheading the development of the Zim Cyber City, a $500 million high-tech park in Zimbabwe. This project is part of Zimbabwe's broader "smart city" initiative, which aims to integrate advanced surveillance systems. The Cyber City will feature 24/7 surveillance technology, including facial recognition systems, directly connected to local law enforcement.
Germany
Mühlbauer, a German technology company, became Uganda's first biometric ID system provider in 2010 following a meeting between President Museveni and the German ambassador. The $80 million contract was controversial as it bypassed normal government procurement rules by avoiding a competitive bidding process. The company played a significant role in expanding Uganda's biometric identity coverage, registering approximately 5 million citizens in just 6 weeks. Their system provided ID cards and digital identities to Ugandan citizens. While Mühlbauer's technology was ostensibly implemented for legitimate identification purposes, extensive documentation and interviews gathered by Bloomberg and nonprofit investigative newsroom Lighthouse Reports reveal it has evolved into a sophisticated surveillance tool used to monitor politicians, journalists, human rights advocates, and ordinary citizens in Uganda.
Japan
NEC Corporation is a Japanese multinational company specializing in IT services and electronics, with a significant focus on biometric surveillance technologies. Their products include NeoFace, a facial recognition system used for law enforcement and immigration purposes, and which is powered by AI for advanced image matching and identity verification. NEC has numerous partnerships with foreign governments to provide these surveillance technologies. Its "Safer Cities" platform integrates large-scale databases combining biometric data, national identification systems, and surveillance from citywide cameras and drones, fully equipped with behavioral analytics. The system is designed to monitor urban environments in real-time, using advanced AI to analyze patterns of human activity, providing law enforcement with powerful tools for ongoing mass surveillance.
Israel
NICE offers surveillance and analytics tools that enable agencies to monitor and analyze large volumes of data, especially to law enforcement agencies. These tools include advanced video surveillance systems, voice and data analytics software, and communication interception capabilities. NICE is also a longtime collaborator of the Milan-based Hacking Team. According to a Buzzfeed investigation based on emails leaked by Wikileaks, the two companies exchanged nearly 3,000 emails between 2010 and 2015, discussing business opportunities in countries such as Uganda, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, and Finland. NICE is one of Hacking Team's largest partners, frequently acting as an intermediary, connecting Hacking Team with state police and intelligence agencies seeking surveillance tools and advanced malware capabilities. NICE Actimize, a subsidiary of NICE Systems, has developed SURVEIL-X Behaviour, an AI-powered solution designed to provide organizations with a comprehensive behavioral profile of employees. Integrated into the SURVEIL-X Holistic Employee Conduct Surveillance suite, this tool actively surveils employees and analyzes detailed data from hundreds of sources, such as HR systems, customer complaints, and access control logs. NICE sold its Physical Security Business Unit (PSBU) to private equity firm Battery Ventures for up to $100 million. The PSBU, rebranded as Qognify, specializes in video analytics and physical security information management. This followed an earlier sale of its cyber and intelligence division to Elbit Systems.
Hacking Team, NICE Systems Inc. Nexidia; NICE Actimize Ltd. NICE Vision; NICE CXone, Battery Ventures, Elbit Systems, Qognify, Hexagon
Israel
NSO Group is an Israeli technology firm known for developing and selling surveillance software, particularly the Pegasus spyware. Pegasus is notorious for its capability to infiltrate mobile phones, allowing its clients, typically governments and law enforcement agencies, to monitor communications, track locations, and access data stored on targeted devices. The company is also behind the malware Chrysaor, one of the most dangerous malware samples ever discovered on Android. Citizen Lab has spent years uncovering sophisticated spyware from Israeli companies like NSO, which contracts with governments with a long history of imprisoning, murdering and silencing dissidents and surveilling civil society organizations. In February 2019, Novalpina Capital, a London-based private equity fund, purchased NSO for approximately $1 billion. In 2023, the Luxembourg-based Dufresne Holdings emerged as NSO's new owner. NSO Group goes by a string of other names, including Q Cyber Technologies in Israel and OSY Technologies in Luxembourg, which served as its parent company. It has a North American wing called WestBridge Technologies. In December 2024, a US judge found NSO Group liable for hacking in a WhatsApp lawsuit.
Circles, CatalanGate, Pegasus, Dream Security, Chrysaor, Q Cyber Technologies, OSY Technologies, WestBridge Technologies, Dufresne Holding
United States
Narus, a subsidiary of Boeing, has sold its NarusInsight technology, used for mass surveillance of internet traffic, to several countries with known human rights violations, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Capabilities include Deep Packet Inspection equipment (DPI), a content-filtering technology that allows network managers to inspect, track and target content from users of the Internet and mobile phones, as it passes through routers on the information superhighway. Narus was was founded in 1997 by Israeli "security experts" to create and sell mass surveillance systems for governments and large corporate clients.
Boeing
United States
Data intelligence company Near was originally founded in Singapore in 2012 and later relocated to Pasadena, California. In 2021, data broker Near claimed to have location data on 1.6 billion people, which raised additional concerns when the company filed for bankruptcy in 2022. The data's potential sale to another company, including sensitive information from locations like abortion clinics, alarmed many human rights and privacy advocates. Near's privacy policy states that all collected data can be conveyed to prospective new owners, should the business be sold. Near sold data to the U.S government and claimed otherwise on its website, with no privacy safeguards in place until 2022. The sale of location data without informed consent continued until at least October 2023.
Italy
Negg Group, an Italian cybersecurity firm, was first revealed in 2017 by Kaspersky as the developer of the “VBiss” and “Skygofree” Android malware, which can infect mobile devices through one-click exploit chains or by drive-by downloads. Google discovered targets in Italy, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan.
Russia
NeoBit, a Russian company headquartered in St. Petersburg, is involved in surveillance and cyber operations on behalf of the Russian government. The company is behind the development of Vepr, a system designed to monitor and predict "information tension points" on the internet. This project, commissioned by Roskomnadzor (Russia's internet censorship agency), aims to analyze online content, including tone, aggression, and repost metrics, to identify perceived threats such as criticism of authorities, "LGBT propaganda," and other topics deemed undesirable by the state. Vepr is part of a broader initiative, the Clean Internet project, which seeks to surveil 100% of Russia's online activity using advanced neural networks and bot farms capable of infiltrating closed social media groups. NeoBit has reportedly collaborated with Huawei, the Chinese tech giant, by supplying expertise in artificial intelligence fields such as machine learning, behavioral analysis, and anomaly detection. Huawei has also recruited researchers from NeoBit and other Russian firms. The company was sanctioned by the United States in 2021 for its suspected ties to Russia's three main intelligence services: the FSB, SVR, and GRU. NeoBit is also a contractor for Russia's Ministry of Defense and the Federal Protective Service (FSO).
Huawei, Vepr
Switzerland
NeoSoft AG is a Swiss-based company developing advanced cellular network interception and related surveillance technologies. This includes IMSI catchers, capable of identifying users and tracking their locations. It also includes tools for extracting intelligence from 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks. Their products are intended for intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Privacy International highlighted NeoSoft's role in training and selling surveillance tools to entities like the Bangladeshi Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a group accused of human rights abuses. Additionally, NeoSoft was implicated in training RAB on its surveillance technologies.
China
Netposa Technologies Limited (Netposa) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, SenseNets Technology Ltd. (SenseNets), an entity that operates or has operated in the surveillance technology sector of the economy of the PRC. Netposa’s subsidiary, SenseNets, has created a facial recognition database that combines GPS tracking with sensitive personal information to track individuals including Uyghurs. At one point, SenseNets was tracking over 2.5 million individuals in Xinjiang.
SenseNets
United States
Netronome, a U.S.-based technology company, played a role in enabling surveillance in Uzbekistan by providing technology used to attempt the interception of encrypted SSL traffic. This effort, facilitated by U.S-Israeli company Verint, involved the use of fake certificates to execute man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, potentially granting Uzbek authorities unprecedented access to private communications. Netronome's Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) appliance product line by Blue Coat Systems, a U.S cybersecurity company that was known as CacheFlow until 2002 and acquired by Symantec in 2016.
Blue Coat Systems, Verint
Canada
Netsweeper, a Canadian company that develops internet filtering technology, enables internet censorship and surveillance in various countries. The company's software is used to block access to content deemed politically or socially sensitive, such as websites related to political dissent, religious topics, independent media, and LGBTQ+ rights. Netsweeper's technology employs automated mechanisms to filter content across multiple categories, which can be customized by clients, including governments and ISPs. Its tools include onGuard, which monitors student activity in real time, tracking desktop content, internet usage, and user-submitted data.
onGuard, DeepNines Technologies
France
Senior executives at this French spyware firm have been indicted for the company’s sale of surveillance software to authoritarian regimes in Libya and Egypt that resulted in the torture and disappearance of dissidents. Eagle products supplied by Nexa Technologies / Amesys were discovered in the offices of Muammar Gaddafi’s secret police. Nexa has an Emirati-based subsidiary called Advanced Middle East Systems. Nexa Technologies serves as the French distributor for products developed by Israeli startup Magen, led by Nir Barak. This includes the WiFi interception device "Mabit," which has been rebranded as "Capture" for the French market. The company has been renamed to RB 42.
Intellexa Alliance, Amesys, WiSpear, Cytrox, Senpai Technologies, Advanced Middle East Systems, RB 42, Trovicor, Magen, Darktrace
Russia
Nexign, formerly known as Peter-Service, is a Russian company that specializes in providing software and services for telecommunications companies. According to its website, Nexign’s products have been delivered to 12 countries and includes the surveillance company Protei as a partner.
Peter-Service, Protei, Storm Technologies
United States
Nightingale Security is a developer of autonomous surveillance drones headquartered in Newark, California, United States. Their drones, known as Blackbirds, are equipped with advanced features like autonomous takeoff, landing, and recharging, as well as thermal imaging and AI-based threat detection. These drones can perform scheduled patrols, respond to alarms and provide live video feeds to its operators. Nightingale's surveillance drones have been deployed in Saudi Arabia and is also used by police agencies in several countries around the world.
Netherlands
Noldus Information Technology, a Dutch company, specializes in emotion recognition systems and digital surveillance technology. Their "FaceReader" software, which automatically analyzes facial expressions such as anger, happiness, sadness, surprise, and disgust, has been sold to public security and law enforcement institutions in China. The software has been used by Chinese universities with ties to the public security apparatus and police, as well as the Ministry of Public Security. Amnesty International revealed that Noldus supplied its technology to at least two universities in Xinjiang between 2012 and 2018, including "The Observer XT" software to Shihezi University, which is administered by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC). XPCC plays a key role in maintaining China's unification, social stability in Xinjiang, and in combating what the government labels as violent terrorist crimes. By 2012, it was already recognized that the Chinese government was conflating Uyghur cultural and religious practices with terrorism, and in the following years, technology for suppressing minorities in Xinjiang, particularly emotion and behavioral analysis systems, became a focus of Chinese authorities.
FaceReader, The Observer XT
Russia
Norsi-Trans is one of the major providers of Russia's System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM), a surveillance system mandated by Russian law for telecommunications and internet service providers. SORM enables direct access for security and intelligence services to intercept and monitor telecommunications traffic, bypassing service providers entirely. This system has evolved from intercepting landline and mobile communications to monitoring internet traffic, Wi-Fi, and social media. The latest version, SORM-3, allows for the collection and long-term storage of traffic and subscriber metadata in a searchable database, enabling filtering by phone numbers, geolocations, IP addresses, and usernames. Norsi-Trans reportedly incorporates Loongson's CPUs, developed by the Chinese company Loongson Technology, in its servers. The company, along with other SORM providers like Citadel and Protei, has been actively marketing these surveillance technologies to government agencies in countries in Central Asia and Latin America.
Loongson Technology
India
NotionTag is the developer of FaceTagr, an advanced facial recognition application designed for identity verification and video analytics. Adopted by the Chennai police since 2017, it uses computer vision to analyze CCTV footage for real-time object detection, zone monitoring, and suspect identification. In addition, the company developed CoBuddy, a facial recognition app which was used by Tamil Nadu police during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor individuals under quarantine, according to MediaNama. The app combined GPS geofencing and facial verification to ensure quarantined individuals remained within designated areas. The app also sent random prompts for face verification multiple times a day, alerting authorities if someone left the geofenced zone. It featured a centralized dashboard for real-time monitoring and heat maps of quarantined individuals.
FaceTagr, Haliscape, CoBuddy
Russia
The Russian company NtechLab operates Russia’s extensive biometric mass surveillance system. This system has reportedly facilitated numerous arbitrary arrests of Russian citizens identified through NtechLab's biometric recognition technology, often during peaceful demonstrations. In July 2023, the European Union imposed sanctions on NtechLab for its involvement in serious human rights violations in Russia. NtechLab is also behind FindFace, a powerful facial recognition app that quickly gained popularity for its ability to identify individuals with high accuracy by comparing photos to profile pictures on the Russian social networking site Vkontakte. The company operates as a subsidiary of Rostec, a Russian state-owned corporation.
Tevian, Toloka, FindFace, Rostec
United States
Ntrepid is a software company specializing in tools and solutions for online anonymity, intelligence gathering, and social network analysis. A subsidiary of Abraxas, a prominent contractor for the U.S. intelligence community and owned by Cubic, Ntrepid has played a major role in advancing the capabilities of U.S. military and intelligence operations. The company is best known for developing software that allows U.S. military personnel to create culturally and personally detailed false identities, enabling the infiltration of social networks in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. A Guardian investigation revealed that the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) granted a $2.76 million contract to Ntrepid to develop the "sock puppets" for manipulation and intelligence gathering. The company’s Chief Technical Officer Lance Cottrell gave several training seminars at ISS World, the internet and telecommunications interception systems manufacturers’ conference that promotes surveillance products to governments. Cottrell is the creator of Anonymizer, which was acquired by Ntrepid's parent company Abraxas in 2008.
Anonymizer, Centcom, Abraxas
Luxembourg
OSY Technologies is a Luxembourg-based company that serves as the parent organization of the NSO Group ecosystem. The company is part of a larger network primarily consisting of spyware and surveillance companies, often run by former Israeli intelligence officers. Both OSY Technologies and Q Cyber Technologies, which is also based in Luxembourg, have been named in lawsuits related to illegal hacking using the Pegasus spyware. Michael Flynn, the former U.S. national security advisor, served on OSY Technologies' advisory board in 2016. This relationship coincided with NSO Group's expansion into the U.S. market through the establishment of WestBridge Technologies in the D.C. region.
NSO Group, WestBridge Technologies, Circles, OSY Technologies SARL, Q Cyber Technologies
France
OT-Morpho, now known as French multinational IDEMIA, specializes in security and identity systems, including facial recognition and other biometric identification products. In 2015, the company was awarded a contract to supply facial recognition equipment directly to the Shanghai Public Security Bureau. Kenya's opposition coalition has accused OT-Morpho of complicity in electoral fraud in Kenya.
IDEMIA, Thales, Oberthur Technologies, Morpho Security System (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
France
Obvious Technologies is a French tech company co-founded by former GIGN commander Thierry Orosco and entrepreneur Naoufal el-Ouali. The company partnered with Emirati cyber-intelligence firm CPX and has ties with the AI-surveillance powerhouse Group 42 (G42). The company is also working with consultant Charles Gillibert to integrate surveillance capabilities and deliver UAVs to Saudi authorities.
G42, CPX
Vietnam
OceanLotus (also known as APT-C-00 and APT32) is a sophisticated hacking group suspected of having ties to the Vietnamese government. The group has been conducting spyware attacks against Vietnamese human rights activists and journalists critical of the Vietnamese state while attempting to infiltrate their digital networks. Volexity, a D.C.-based cyber security firm, has been tracking OceanLotus since May 2017 when it identified the group's digital surveillance campaign targeting several Asian nations and hundreds of entities tied to media, human rights, and civil society. The group operates through numerous strategically compromised websites in multiple languages (Vietnamese, Cambodian, English, and Malay) and has shown increasing sophistication in its attack tactics, techniques, and procedures. Volexity's insights are based on its close work with several organizations that have been specifically targeted by OceanLotus since early 2015. Notable targets have included a prominent Vietnamese blogger and pro-democracy activist based in Germany, and the Vietnamese Overseas Initiative for Conscience Empowerment (VOICE), a Philippines-based NGO supporting Vietnamese refugees and human rights.
Canada
Octasic, a Canadian company, is a developer of wireless communication technologies, including surveillance solutions such as IMSI catchers. These devices, often referred to as "Stingrays," are capable of intercepting mobile phone signals and tracking user locations by masquerading as legitimate cell towers. Octasic's Nyxcell V800 targets multiple frequency bands, including GSM (2G), CDMA2000 (3G), and LTE (4G), enabling comprehensive surveillance capabilities. In 2019, sold IMSI catchers to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bangladesh. Octasic's CEO, Sebastien Leblanc, confirmed that the Canadian government approved the export of these surveillance technologies to Bangladesh. Octasic's involvement in the IMSI catcher market has expanded internationally, with the company exporting its surveillance tools to Europe via Cyprus. The company operates a research and development center in Bangalore, India, and has a sales office in Japan.
Russia
Oniks-Line is a Russian company that develops surveillance and interception technology, particularly systems used for state monitoring and data interception. It is one of the providers of SORM (System for Operational-Investigative Activities) equipment, a surveillance framework widely used in Russia and exported to other countries. In Kyrgyzstan, Oniks-Line's SORM technology has been implemented to allow authorities to intercept and monitor communications.
Israel
Oosto is an Israeli company formerly known as AnyVision specializing in facial recognition and tracking technologies. AnyVision initially gained notoriety for its controversial use in monitoring the West Bank border and rebranded to Oosto in September 2021 after it faced significant backlash for its unethical business practices. Despite claims from Oosto that issues like racial bias have been mitigated, skepticism remains, particularly as the company pushes into even more contentious areas like behavior recognition. In September 2020, AnyVision's/Oosto's shareholders partnered with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. to form a joint venture named SightX. This new company, equally owned by AnyVision’s shareholders and Rafael, focuses on developing advanced AI-recognition technologies for military use.
Better Tomorrow, PTS Sweden AB, AnyVision, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, SightX
United Arab Emirates
OryxLabs is an Abu Dhabi-based cybersecurity firm. Established in 2020, the company specializes in DNS monitoring and zero-day exploit research. Under the leadership of Sumit Dhar, a former executive at DarkMatter and Digital14, OryxLabs has recruited a team of former spyware and surveillance tech developers, including veterans from Beacon Red and Connection Systems. DarkMatter's surveillance activities included targeting journalists, activists, and dissidents with spyware and hacking tools. One of its operations, known as Project Raven, involved ex-U.S. intelligence operatives conducting cyber-espionage on behalf of the UAE. This included hacking into email accounts, tracking individuals' movements, and gathering private data. Journalists were specifically targeted to suppress dissent and monitor media activities critical of the UAE government. In 2023, OryxLabs was acquired by EDGE, the defense conglomerate based in the UAE.
EDGE, DarkMatter, Digital14, G2, Beacon Red, Connection Systems
Namibia
Otesa (Orion Technologies and Engineering Systems Africa) is a Namibian company that specializes in surveillance and biometric systems. Otesa developed the Automated Biometric Identification System (N-ABIS) for the Namibian Police Force, a project valued at N$40 million and completed over two years. This system integrates automated fingerprint identification and facial recognition technology, enabling rapid comparison of biometric data against millions of records in seconds. The system maintains an extensive database of fingerprints and facial images.
Israel
OurCrowd is an Israeli company that facilitates startup investments. It helps fund and promote AI-powered surveillance tech, as well as tools like BriefCam, which develops and sells video analysis software that is capable of creating synopses of long clips and identifying and tracking objects and activities. It became the first Israeli VC registered by the Abu Dhabi Global Market to operate in the country. The UAE relies heavily on surveillance tech produced by Israeli startups and defense companies.
United States
Outlogic, formerly known as X-Mode Social, is a data broker that collects and sells location data through specialized code embedded in over 100 mobile applications, including dating, music, weather, and Muslim prayer apps. On its former website, the company claimed to cover more than 25% of the adult U.S. population monthly. After being acquired by Digital Envoy in August 2021, the company has maintained significant government contracts, including with the IRS, Department of Homeland Security, and various military branches in the U.S. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission issued a settlement that prohibits Outlogic from selling or sharing location data that could be used to track individuals to healthcare facilities, domestic abuse shelters, or places of worship.
X-Mode Social
China
The Owlet device, developed by Semptian, a Chinese company, is a portable surveillance tool designed for monitoring cellphone communications. Approximately the size of a suitcase, it can be discreetly operated from various locations, such as a vehicle or an urban apartment. When activated, the Owlet intercepts cellphone calls and text messages that are being transmitted over the airwaves in its immediate vicinity. According to Semptian's documentation, the Owlet is capable of monitoring up to 200 different phones simultaneously. This capability allows authorities to conduct widespread surveillance of communications within a specified area, facilitating monitoring and enabling the targeting of individuals based on intercepted content.
Russia
Oxygen Software, a Russia-based company, develops mobile forensics tools marketed under its U.S branch, Oxygen Forensics. These tools are primarily deployed by government agencies and are widely used for surveillance purposes. Their capabilities include extracting vast amounts of data from mobile devices, such as personal messages, call logs, location data, and other sensitive information. Governments, particularly in Central Asia, such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, have reportedly used them to monitor activists, journalists, and political dissidents. In the U.S, its tools are used by the U.S Army, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alongside other government agencies. According to an investigation by Gizmodo, U.S. school districts are also amongst its users. For example, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in Texas confirmed using Oxygen Forensics' tools to extract data from students' phones for "evidentiary purposes." Oxygen Software’s tools are often sold through regional resellers, such as Softline, which has offices in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Oxygen Forensics, Softline
Turkey
PARS Defense is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Istanbul that, says its website, “helps customers to solve forensic challenges in mobile world [sic].” It was included in a report by Google exposing the creation of hacking tools that have been deployed against "high risk individuals."
Germany
PKI Electronic Intelligence, headquartered in Germany, is a developer of advanced surveillance and intelligence gathering technologies tailored for law enforcement and government agencies. Among their offerings is the PKI 1650 IMSI-Catcher, a device designed to track individuals by identifying their mobile phone identities. According to their website, this system allows multiple officers to monitor information both on-site and remotely, providing real-time data and logging capabilities for intelligence purposes. Their products also include GSM cellular monitoring systems, long range WiFi interception, WiFi clone systems and audio surveillance equipment.
India
Paladion was an India-based company that develops surveillance tools for use by governments, law enforcement agencies, and corporations. Among its offerings is an SSL Interception and Decryption System, designed to perform covert man-in-the-middle attacks, enabling the monitoring of encrypted communications, including banking transactions and Gmail. Paladion marketed a link analysis tool that maps relationships between individuals, identifying key connections within groups for extended surveillance. This tool integrates with the client's Internet Monitoring System (IMS), a scalable framework capable of nationwide surveillance, offering real-time analysis, long-term data storage, and proactive detection of new targets for deep intelligence gathering. Paladion maintained offices in India, the U.S, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. The company was acquired by Atos in 2020.
Atos
United States
Palantir operates one of the largest and most lucrative surveillance systems. This includes tools to monitor social media activities and using metadata to uncover connections between individuals and groups, as well as DMV records, license plate reader data, employment data, arrest records and more, often for intelligence purposes. It works with entities such as the U.S army on AI-powered targeting systems, and is also known to supply surveillance products to Israel through strategic partnerships.
Silk, Kimono Labs, Fancy That, Usepropeller, Poptip, Voicegem, Propeller, Synapse Technology, FT Technologies, Sompo (Brazil)
Spain
Palm Beach Networks (formerly known as Defense Prime) is a spyware company with roots in both the U.S. and Israel, operating out of Barcelona, Spain. According to an investigation by TechCrunch, the company specializes in offensive cybersecurity, including the development of zero-day exploits and spyware implants. It has undergone several rebrandings, transitioning from Defense Prime to Palm Beach Networks and later to Head and Tail, with overlapping executives across these entities. According to Intelligence Online, the company's Israeli founders, Yigal Sharon and Yosef Aloni, previously worked for US investment fund Black Dragon Capital. The third founder is Yaacov Nir. The company’s Chief Technology Officer, Alexey Levin, is a former researcher at NSO Group and Candiru, two Israeli spyware firms. Levin has been involved in recruiting top-tier Israeli talent, offering high salaries and relocation packages to Barcelona. In 2023, it was negotiating to acquire intellectual property and government contracts from the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm Quadream, focusing on its contracts in Asia.
NSO Group, Candiru, Defense Prime, Head and Tail, Black Dragon Capital, Quadream
United States
Paraben Corporation is a developer of digital forensics and surveillance technology, offering tools designed for data extraction and analysis from mobile devices. Their products, such as the CSI Stick, allow for rapid and covert retrieval of data, including deleted files, from smartphones without leaving traces, specifically marketed towards law enforcement, intelligence, and corporate investigations.
Israel
Paragon is an Israeli company that claims to give police the power to remotely break into encrypted instant messaging communications through its tool Graphite, whether that’s WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger or Gmail. One other spyware industry executive said it also promises to get longer-lasting access to a device, even when it’s rebooted. The company’s staff have strong backgrounds in surveillance, with its VP of operations and HR lead being ex-NSO, and many of its developers coming from Israel Defense Forces intelligence units. According to Reuters, AE Industrial Partners' reported acquisition of Paragon has come under scrutiny. While Israeli media claimed the deal had received official approval from both U.S. and Israeli authorities, a senior White House official explicitly denied this, stating "The U.S. government never 'approved' this sale" and emphasizing it remains a private transaction. The Florida-based investment group reportedly plans to merge Paragon with Virginia-based cybersecurity company Red Lattice. According to the Israeli financial publication Calcalist, the acquisition deal was valued at $500 million, with potential earnouts that could increase the total value to $900 million. In January 2025, WhatsApp accused Israeli spyware company Paragon of targeting nearly 100 journalists and civil society members with Graphite. WhatsApp stated with "high confidence" that these individuals were targeted and possibly compromised using a "zero-click" attack, which required no user interaction. There are more victims of Paragon in additional countries than what is listed here, but these are the ones confirmed via reports and public disclosures thus far.
NSO Group, Red Lattice, Graphite
Cyprus
Passitora, previously known as WiSpear, is a Cyprus-based company controlled by former Israeli intelligence commander Tal Dilian. It sells advanced surveillance technology to governments worldwide. Despite a ban on Israeli intelligence and defense exports to Bangladesh, Passitora sold spyware to the country's National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), a branch of the Interior Ministry responsible for monitoring internet and social media. This technology enables interception of calls, texts, and internet traffic. The company has faced scrutiny in the past, including a scandal in Cyprus involving its SpearHead system, which was used to extract private data from people's phones without their knowledge or consent. Passitora is part of the Intellexa Alliance, a network of companies marketing and selling spyware globally.
Intellexa, WiSpear
United States
Passware is a U.S-Russian cybersecurity company that develops encryption-cracking tools that have been widely used by U.S. government agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), since at least 2010. Passware's software can bypass encryption on systems like TrueCrypt and is designed to be user-friendly, even for non-technical users. It is often bundled with other forensic tools, such as those from Oxygen Forensics, for use by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The company's primary engineering office is in Moscow, Russia.
Oxygen Software, Oxygen Forensics, Magnet Forensics
United States
PathAR is a technology company specializing in social media monitoring analytics for intelligence gathering, with its primary product, Dunami, being used by U.S government agencies like the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Dunami mines data from platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to create detailed profiles of users and map networks of association. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) received a $2.2 million grant in 2014 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Comprehensive School Safety Initiative. Part of the grant was allocated to hire two intelligence analysts and to purchase Dunami, which was then used to monitor students' public social media activity. The program initially targeted 16 schools and later expanded to 24 schools, covering approximately 25,000 students. The company is backed by In-Q-Tel, the CIA's venture capital arm.
Dunami
Israel
Patternz is an Israeli company that builds geolocation technology derived from advertising data (ADINT) with advanced spyware capabilities. Founded in 2019 by Yoad Gidron, a former technical director at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, alongside Nimrod Schwartz and Rafi Ton of digital advertising firm NUVIAD, Patternz leverages Mobile Advertising ID (MAID) technology to track individuals' locations in real time and build comprehensive target profiles. This approach is often used to bypass the need for legal warrants and benefits from more flexible export regulations compared to traditional surveillance tools. The company’s platform not only enables precise tracking and profiling but can also issue alerts when a target reaches specific destinations. Patternz is reportedly working on even more advanced solutions, including the integration of spyware capabilities into the ad-tech stack, potentially deploying Trojans through advertising frameworks. In January 2024, the business development firm Improvate The Future (ITF) filed a lawsuit against Patternz for alleged non-payment of services. ITF, which boasts a high-profile advisory board including former Israeli cybersecurity chief Yigal Unna and several ex-prime ministers, had previously facilitated Patternz's participation in international cyber delegations. Udi Doenyas, Patternz’s technical director, is a former architect of NSO Group's Pegasus spyware and has been a key figure in the company’s operations.
NSO Group, Pegasus, NUVIAD
Turkey
Pavo Group is a Turkish company providing interception and threat intelligence services through its subsidiaries, such as InterProbe and Interdata, serving both military and government clients globally. Its capabilities include IMSI-catcher technology, exploiting undisclosed software vulnerabilities for intelligence purposes, cyber intelligence systems including data interception, and technologies for tracking and locating mobile devices. Barzan Holdings, the strategic investment arm of Qatar's Ministry of Defense and the commercial gateway for the country's military defense industry, owns a stake in the company.
InterProbe, RedEye, Interdata, Star Solutions, EDGE, CPX
United Arab Emirates
Not to be confused with NSO Group's Pegasus spyware, Pegasus Intelligence FZCO is a Dubai-based technology broker founded in 2008, and which specializes in offering security solutions, signals intelligence, and cyber intelligence to military and government clients operating in "difficult environments." The company leverages a network of relationships with supposed subject matter and field experts. In 2023, Pegasus Intelligence partnered with Gedion to provide advanced surveillance equipment to primarily government clients in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC.) The company has also partnered with Cyabra, an OurCrowd portfolio company, in a collaboration which integrates Cyabra’s advanced AI-powered social search engine into Pegasus Intelligence’s offerings, for government and military agencies within the GCC.
Gedion, OurCrowd, Cyabra, Tesseract Intelligence
United States
Californian company Pelco uses monitoring equipment by Israeli company Vigilant Technologies to implement one of the largest digital monitoring systems in the world via a collaboration with NYPD in the U.S. Pelco was acquired by Schneider Electric, a French multinational corporation, in 2007. Later, in 2019, Pelco was sold by Schneider Electric to Transom Capital Group. Pelco was eventually acquired by Motorola Solutions in 2020 and remains its current owner. Pelco cooperates with Dahua Technology, whose tools are used by the authorities in China to track, monitor and target Uyghurs.
Schneider Electric, Transom Capital Group, Motorola Solutions
United States
PenLink is a software company focused on communications surveillance and data analysis solutions for law enforcement. PenLink has become a go-to resource for agencies monitoring users across various platforms, including Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Its federal clients in the U.S. include the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.) PenLink's flagship products, PLX and PenPoint, enable law enforcement to collect and analyze vast amounts of data, including social media interactions and telecommunications records. PenLink's extensive capabilities and partnerships with major tech companies allow it to facilitate real-time tracking and data retrieval. In 2022, PenLink acquired GeoTime, which develops data collection and analysis software, and in 2023, it acquired the Israeli surveillance company Cobwebs Technologies, which develops software that aggregates data from phones and social media, converting it into intelligence.
Cobwebs Technologies, Tangles, GeoTime, Uncharted Software
United States
Perceptics, a Tennessee-based subcontractor, became widely known after a hack exposed sensitive data, including license plate images and drivers' photos, collected by their license plate readers for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Perceptics has also faced criticism for its role in gathering and analyzing location data, particularly in border communities. Internal emails reveal that Perceptics engaged in controversial trials combining license plate readers with facial recognition technology, and lobbied to influence privacy legislation while downplaying their involvement in data use. The company also transferred license plate and traveler images to its own privately owned network, causing it to be suspended by CBP.
Israel
Phantom Technologies Ltd. is a manufacturer of tactical intelligence and surveillance tools. Their IMSI catcher, the IMSI400, is designed to collect cellular phone identities off the air, operating across GSM, UMTS, and LTE networks, compatible with 2G, 3G, and 4G communication generations.
Israel
PicSix, also known as P6, is an Israeli cyber surveillance company based in Even Yehuda and run by former Israeli intelligence agents. It specializes in mobile interception technology. Their flagship product, P6Intercept, enables mass surveillance of hundreds of mobile phones simultaneously within its operational range. An Al Jazeera investigation uncovered that Bangladesh's Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) acquired P6Intercept through an elaborate scheme designed to obscure the transaction's true nature. The deal involved multiple intermediaries: Sovereign Systems, a Singapore-based company, facilitated the purchase in Hungary, while James Moloney, an Irish national based in Bangkok, served as a middleman. To obscure the product's Israeli origin, the contract falsely listed Hungary as the country of manufacture. This arrangement allowed PicSix to conduct business with countries that typically avoid direct dealings with Israel. During product demonstrations to Bangladeshi intelligence officials, PicSix representatives reportedly conducted unauthorized phone interceptions in Hungary. Another notable product in their lineup is P6-FI5, a portable interception system that creates deceptive cell towers compatible with GSM, 3G, and 4G networks. This device employs a sophisticated strategy to bypass encryption: it deliberately disrupts encrypted applications on target devices, forcing users to switch to less secure, easily interceptable communication methods. Additionally, the system can deploy malware to any device connected to its counterfeit cell tower.
Sovereign Systems, P6Intercept
China
Pinduoduo, a popular Chinese shopping app, is accused of bypassing users' cell phone security to monitor other apps and read private messages. Cybersecurity experts found malware in the Pinduoduo app that exploited vulnerabilities in Android operating systems. It is owned by PDD Holdings, a multinational commerce group based in Shanghai, China.
Switzerland
Polus Tech is a Swiss-based company that develops and distributes surveillance technology, including IMSI catchers, which are devices capable of intercepting and tracking mobile phone communications. The company is led by Niv Karmi, a former co-founder of NSO Group. In 2020, Polus Tech exported surveillance equipment worth 2.2 million Swiss francs to Indonesia.
NSO Group
Canada
PortaOne is a Canadian software company that specializes in developing products for telecommunication service providers. A report by Citizen Lab revealed that it was selected by Iranian cellular carrier, Ariantel, to provide mobile account creation, service provisioning, and customized integration with Iran's Legal Intercept system, a component for conducting usage surveillance and control activity.
Ariantel
Greece
Predator spyware, developed by Cytrox, is an advanced surveillance tool that has been used to target individuals such as politicians, journalists, and human rights defenders. The spyware allows for extensive monitoring and data extraction from infected devices, similar to other notorious spyware like Pegasus. It primarily targets Android and iOS operating systems.
Intellexa, Santinomo Limited, Cytrox Holdings ZRT.
Israel
Prelysis provides Wi-Fi interception systems for surveillance purposes. Based in Israel, it also has a presence in Cyprus, where they have obtained export licenses for the sale of their monitoring tools to non-EU countries. It is headed by Israeli citizen Kobi Naveh, who worked for worked for the Israeli company Verint until 2014. Verint is also the company that acquired the Cyprus-registered surveillance company UTX Technologies. Bangladesh’s internal intelligence agency, or NSI, bought a system for intercepting Wi-Fi communications from the company.
Verint, UTX Technologies
United Arab Emirates
Presight AI is a spun-off arm of the Abu Dhabi firm G42, overseen by the UAE's powerful national security adviser. It supports the UAE's controversial mass surveillance activities. Presight’s marketing material describes the company’s system as having "tracked and traced millions of people and vehicles easily." The company sells surveillance technology to police forces worldwide, including software nearly identical to products popular with police agencies in China.
AIQ, DarkMatter, Project Raven, G42, Kazdream, Butterfly Effect, TrustDecision
United States
Primer is a military-focused artificial intelligence company designed to support the "next-generation warfighter." It develops advanced AI solutions for mission planning, asset tracking, intelligence operations, and real-time threat detection. Its technology is capable of analyzing and synthesizing data from both classified and public sources, including surveillance, social media, and news outlets, to provide detailed intelligence for defense operations. Primer is partnered with Palantir, a leading data analytics company, through Palantir's FedStart program. The program by Palantir offers a platform that allows companies, particularly startups, to quickly deploy their software to the US federal government and its various agencies with minimal compliance requirements. The company's federal advisory board members include Sue Gordon, former principal deputy of national intelligence, Collin Green, a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral, and Daniel Simpson, a retired U.S. Air Force major general who was also assistant deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Palantir
United States
Procera Networks was a U.S.-based company that developed deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, which can be used for internet traffic management, censorship, and surveillance purposes. Procera's technology was also allegedly used for surveillance and censorship purposes in countries with authoritarian regimes, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey, Syria and Egypt. In 2015, Procera Networks was acquired by Francisco Partners, a private equity firm, and merged with Sandvine. It now operates under that brand.
Sandvine Inc, Vineyard Networks, Netintact, Cerebro
United Arab Emirates
Protect Electronic Systems is a company based in the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the spyware firms detected by Google and Meta, and the company claims to be a cybersecurity firm but works with Variston, another spyware vendor, to package its spyware into products sold to government customers.
Variston, TrueL
Russia
Protei is a Russia-based company that offers an extensive suite of telecommunications technologies with significant surveillance capabilities, enabling the monitoring of user communications, locations, and behaviors. Protei equipment is used by a range of telecom companies worldwide for logging internet usage as well as for blocking websites. It also offers "Smart City" related technologies for mass surveillance purposes. The company has offices in Jordan and Estonia and partners with major firms including Nokia and Oracle.
Ariantel, Nokia, Oracle, Optiva, Nexign, Rostelecom, PortaOne, Qosmos, GABS Telecommunications, KNOT Solutions, Alepo, Ronex Security
China
Pwnzen Infotech, a company backed by cybersecurity giant Qihoo 360, is a prominent player in China's growing surveillance technology industry. At the China International Exhibition on Police Equipment, Pwnzen showcased its advanced phone scanning systems, emphasizing their ability to extract data from overseas platforms like Facebook and Twitter. A representative highlighted a case where their technology was used to access the phone of a suspect accused of "subverting the government," retrieving data from social media accounts. They also operate in Singapore via their Singaporean subsidiary, Pwnzen Technology, under the leadership of Thomas Lim, who also works for surveillance company COSEINC, which was sanctioned by the U.S in 2021.
Qihoo 360, COSEINC, Pwnzen Technology
Luxembourg
Q Cyber Technologies SARL is one of the entities affiliated with NSO Group, an Israeli-based company that sells Pegasus, one of the world’s most sophisticated hacking tools, to governments and law enforcement agencies. The abuses were detailed in the Pegasus Project, a collaborative investigation by media organizations and Amnesty International revealing widespread misuse of Pegasus in multiple countries, targeting thousands of individuals. Q Cyber Technologies signs contracts, issues invoices, and receives payments from NSO Group customers.
NSO Group, Pegasus, OSY Technologies
China
The QQ Browser is a web browser developed by Tencent, the same company behind QQ Messenger and other digital services. Like other Tencent products, QQ Browser collects user data as per Chinese regulations. This includes browsing history, search queries, and other metadata actively being used for surveillance purposes. QQ Browser is integrated with China's social credit system. User behavior on the browser, such as engagement with political content or adherence to government policies, may influence individuals' social credit scores.
Tencent
China
QQ, developed by Tencent Holdings Ltd., is a widely used instant messaging platform in China. Like other digital platforms in China, QQ is monitored for dissenting opinions, political activism, or any content that challenges the Communist Party's authority or policies. Since 2012, QQ users are required to register with their real identities. This enables authorities to link online activities to specific individuals, facilitating surveillance and monitoring efforts.
Tencent
United Kingdom
QinetiQ provides advanced communications and surveillance systems including high quality still and video photography, infra-red sensors, heat and movement detection, radar systems and LiDAR. We can also manage the extraction, analysis and relay of data gathered through their Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
Thales, Boeing, Elbit Systems
France
Qosmos was a French technology company that developed Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) software. It has faced significant scrutiny for reportedly supplying surveillance tools to oppressive regimes, including Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria, confirmed by several investigations. The company's software is capable of monitoring internet traffic, which can be used to track dissidents and suppress opposition. In 2012, French authorities opened a judicial investigation into Qosmos for its potential complicity in crimes against humanity. The company denied selling its products directly to the Assad government but faced accusations of indirectly enabling surveillance through intermediaries. Advocacy groups and human rights organizations have criticized Qosmos for failing to ensure its technology was not misused. In 2016, it was acquired by Swedish company ENEA.
ENEA
Israel
QuaDream Ltd is an Israeli company that specialises in the development and sale of advanced digital offensive technology to government clients. The company is known for its spyware marketed under the name “Reign”, which, like NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, reportedly utilises zero-click exploits to hack into target devices. It was founded in 2014 by a group including two former NSO Group employees, Guy Geva, and Nimrod Reznik. In 2017, a company named InReach was established in Cyprus specifically to promote QuaDream products, such as Reign, outside of Israel. QuaDream utilized InReach to sell its products to its customers in order to bypass Israeli export controls. Many key employees of both InReach and QuaDream have previously worked for NSO Group, Verint, and UTX Technologies.
InReach
Italy
RCS Lab is an Italian company specializing in the development and sale of surveillance and interception technologies. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Milan, RCS Lab provides a range of services and products to law enforcement and intelligence agencies worldwide. In 2022, Cy4Gate acquired fellow Italian firm RCS Lab, known for its “Hermit” spyware tools. Google and Meta have observed RCS Lab campaigns in Italy, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Mongolia. Tykelab, a company based in Rome and owned by RCS Lab, had been using dozens of phone networks, often on islands in the South Pacific, to send tens of thousands of secret ‘tracking packets’ around the world, targeting people in countries including Italy itself, Greece, North Macedonia, Portugal, Libya, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iraq and Mali. RCS Lab has offshoots in France, Germany and Spain, as well as another concealed subsidiary, Azienda Informatica Italiana, which builds interception software for Android and iPhone devices.
Cy4Gate, Hermit, Tykelab, Azienda Informatica Italiana
Canada
Radian6, acquired by Salesforce in 2011, provides a powerful social media monitoring tool. The Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC), a U.S.-based organization with ties to Israeli intelligence, has utilized it to monitor and target pro-Palestinian activists on college campuses in the U.S. The tool allowed the ICC to track online conversations in real time across platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, and other online communities. It provided geolocation data and other insights, enabling the ICC to build detailed intelligence dossiers on students and faculty advocating for Palestinian rights.
Salesforce
Malaysia
Raedarius M8 Sdn Bhd has been identified as one of the entities involved in the distribution and operation of FinFisher spyware in Indonesia for monitoring and surveillance purposes within the country. Amnesty International linked the entity to FinFisher by reviewing extracts of corporate records from company registers in Malaysia and Germany. Raedarius M8 in Malaysia is wholly owned by German Raedarius M8 GmbH.
Raedarius M8 GmbH, FinFisher, Gamma Group, FinFly
Israel
Rayzone offers a suite of tools for interception, data extraction, and location tracking. Their technology has been reportedly used by various countries to surveil journalists and human rights defenders. An investigation has revealed that Rayzone Group allegedly used a little-known cell network feature to track the locations of mobile phones globally. This network vulnerability is believed to have been exploited to locate UAE Princess Sheikha Latifa during her attempted escape in 2018.
United States
Recorded Future is a cyber intelligence company founded by Swedish entrepreneur Christopher Ahlberg and headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts. The company specializes in analyzing vast datasets, both public and private, to provide intelligence. It is a major provider to U.S. defense, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies, including the NSA’s Cyber Command, the Secret Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, securing multi-million-dollar federal contracts over the years. Israel's National Cyber Security Authority is also a user of the company's tools. Former NSA officer Lori Stroud joined Recorded Future in 2019. Before this role, Stroud was involved in the UAE's cyber-offensive Project Raven, conducted with the National Electronic Security Authority (NESA) and DarkMatter, and which used spyware to target journalists and human rights defenders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In September 2024, Recorded Future was acquired by Mastercard for $2.65 billion.
Mastercard, Project Raven, DarkMatter
Israel
A surveillance app that cross-references photos of Palestinians at checkpoints against a database, which is then expanded with the biometric data collected.
Wolf Pack, Blue Wolf, White Wolf
United States
Resecurity, Inc., a California-based cybersecurity company, delivers advanced surveillance and monitoring technologies to government agencies worldwide. Its Government Security Operations Center (GSOC) platform integrates a range of technologies designed to improve surveillance capabilities and provide intelligence. Its AI-powered tools also allow for real-time monitoring of diverse data streams, including network traffic, social media activity, and other digital communication channels. Resecurity's GSOC also integrates with video surveillance systems, using AI-driven video analytics to monitor live camera feeds.
SINA, CSG (Centre Systems Group), Seed Group, Beyon Cyber, Cybit Sec
China
Resonant Ltd. is a technology provider in China whose tools have been used for surveillance purposes, particularly in regions like East Turkistan (renamed Xinjiang by China.) The company supplies forensic tools capable of extracting extensive data from smartphones, including passwords, call histories, messages, multimedia files, and app data. These tools are used by Chinese authorities to monitor individuals' digital activities, including accessing data from international platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter. Resonant Ltd. was formerly known as Ryan Technologies, a US-based company specializing in distributing forensic, security, and law enforcement products in China. It rebranded as Resonant Ltd. and operates through subsidiaries like Beijing Ryan Wende Science and Technology and Beijing Ryan Huade Science and Technology in China. It has partnered with numerous US-based and international companies, including Thermo Fisher Scientific, Logicube, and REI (Research Electronics International), to distribute their products in Chin
Ryan Technologies, Beijing Ryan Wende Science and Technology, Beijing Ryan Huade Science and Technology, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Logicube, REI
United Kingdom
Revector is a UK-based company that develops mobile surveillance products, including IMSI catcher technology. Revector's Detector IMSI Catcher UAV 3.0 is a compact payload for UAVs that enables the detection, tracking, and control of 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile phones. Their IMSI catcher technology also comes in covert, portable, and vehicle-mounted configurations. In addition to IMSI catchers, Revector develops Wi-Fi catchers that identify devices by detecting their interactions with Wi-Fi networks. According to the company's official website, Revector's surveillance technologies have been deployed in over 100 countries worldwide since 2002.
Israel
Roboteam is an Israeli company specializing in the development and manufacturing of tactical ground robotic systems, primarily used for surveillance in urban environments. These systems are designed for a variety of applications, including military and law enforcement. Its products, such as Probot and MTGR (Micro Tactical Ground Robot), are equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging and other sensors to perform surveillance and provide the data to its operators, who can make real-time decisions based on the intelligence gathered. Elbit Systems is one of its shareholders. In June, 2024, Roboteam entered an agreement with Psagot, a prominent investment management firm based in Israel, to buy all of the company's shares.
Elbit Systems, Psagot
Israel
Robotican develops unmanned autonomous robots. One of its primary products, Rooster, is a versatile robotic drone utilized by the Israeli military in Gaza for intelligence gathering and surveillance. Additionally, it has gained adoption by various militaries worldwide for similar applications. Its Gallo system, designed for reconnaissance in confined spaces such as tunnels and buildings, has been delivered to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). It features advanced MESH communication for simultaneous operation of multiple units in communication-denied environments.
Germany
Rohde & Schwarz is a prominent German electronics company established in 1933. In 1996, the company introduced its first International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher, a device used to intercept mobile phone communications by mimicking a legitimate cell tower to capture IMSI numbers and other data from nearby devices. Since then, it has continued to develop advanced surveillance tools, including systems capable of intercepting calls, identifying devices through their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), and supporting government and defense agencies with SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and electronic warfare products.
United Kingdom
S2T provides AI-powered surveillance technologies. According to Haaretz: "S2T was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Ori Sasson. It claims to have dozens of clients across five continents and employs people from intelligence agencies in the U.K., the U.S., Russia and Israel, as well as local law enforcement in the Middle East, South and Central America and Asia." According to an investigation by Forbidden Stories, the company KS Process and Software Ltd., shares at least one address and phone number with S2T.
United Kingdom
The SCL Group, formerly known as Strategic Communication Laboratories, gained notoriety primarily through its subsidiary, Cambridge Analytica. SCL Group and Cambridge Analytica were involved in various activities related to data collection, unauthorized access to personal data, and influence/manipulation campaigns. The data was collected from Facebook through an app called thisisyourdigitallife.
Cambridge Analytica, Genome Insight
Russia
SORM (System for Operative Investigative Activities) is a surveillance system used by the Russian government to monitor and intercept internet and telephone communications.
United States
SS8 is a company known for developing surveillance and interception technologies, and it appears to be linked to a controversial spyware incident involving BlackBerry users on the Etisalat network in the UAE. In this case, a seemingly routine update labeled as a "network upgrade" was pushed to users, but it secretly installed spyware capable of intercepting emails and text messages. The spyware, housed in a directory named "/com/ss8/interceptor/app," was designed to send intercepted communications to a remote server upon receiving a specific trigger message. The application caused significant battery drain, which ultimately exposed its presence. SS8 secured a contract from Tunisia to deploy geolocation solutions through its subsidiary, Creativity Software, which it acquired in March 2022. This deal aligns with ongoing U.S.-funded security aid programs for Tunisia. Previously, in late 2023, SS8 also won a contract with Algeria's interior ministry to provide geolocation solutions. At ISS World Europe 2025, the annual conference focused on intelligence and defense technologies, SS8 promoted a session highlighting advanced location intelligence solutions specifically aimed at tracking and monitoring migrants.
Creativity Software
China
SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (SZ DJI) has provided drones to the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau, which are used to surveil and target Uyghurs, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz people. The company is a major supplier of camera drones and other products to 43 countries globally, including the US, UK, and Australia. Key investors include Accel and Sequoia Capital.
XT Xichuang Technology
United States
SafeGraph is a data broker known for collecting and selling aggregated location data derived from mobile apps. The company has faced significant criticism for selling data related to visits to sensitive locations, such as abortion clinics, including Planned Parenthood facilities. This data, marketed under its "Patterns" product, tracks where visitors come from, how long they stay, and where they go afterward. In addition to its commercial ventures, SafeGraph has expanded its operations into government and military contracts. Notably, it secured a contract with the U.S. Air Force to provide data for purposes such as analyzing human activity for military operations. The company also markets its data for monitoring "adversaries" and supporting intelligence initiatives. SafeGraph's investors include In-Q-Tel, the VC arm of the CIA, Peter Thiel and the former head of Saudi intelligence.
CARTO, Snowflake, Esri, AWS, PredictHQ, CoreLogic, Domo, Spectus
Canada
Sandvine was originally founded in 2001 as Procera Networks, a company that developed deep packet inspection (DPI) technology for network. Procera Networks was a U.S.-based company that developed deep packet inspection (DPI) technology, which can be used for internet traffic management, censorship, and surveillance purposes. Procera's technology was also allegedly used for surveillance and censorship purposes in countries with authoritarian regimes, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey, Syria and Egypt. Sandvine was acquired by Francisco Partners' affiliate and merged with Procera Networks. In February, 2024, the U.S. Commerce Department (DOC) added Sandvine to its Entity List, restricting its access to U.S. technology, specifically because it provided Egypt with surveillance technology used to target activists and dissidents. The DOC removed Sandvine from the Entity List in October, 2024, after the company promised to "undergo transformative changes."
Procera Networks, Cerebro
China
Semptian, a Chinese company, manufactures surveillance tools used by authoritarian governments across the Middle East and North Africa. These tools, including the Aegis system, Owlet, Falcon, and HawkEye, enable extensive monitoring of citizens' digital activities and communications. Its technologies are also capable of intercepting emails, such as Gmail (through a tool called Gmail Retriever), and analyzing vast amounts of data for surveillance purposes. They also develop GSM geo-location tools and the POMS (Public Opinion Monitoring System) platform for social media monitoring. Semptian collaborates with American companies like IBM and Xilinx to enhance its surveillance capabilities, despite concerns over human rights abuses in the regions where its technology is deployed. The company's devices intercept phone calls, texts, and internet usage. Headquartered in Shenzhen, the company is led by its founder Chen Longsen, also known as George Chen, who previously served as the director of the local branch of the American cryptography and computer security company SafeNet.
IBM, Xilinx
Israel
Israeli startup Senpai had a $1.5 million deal to supply Malaysia's intelligence agency with surveillance tools to be used on civilians. The deal was code named "Project Magnum."
Intellexa Alliance
China
SenseNets, a Chinese company that provides facial recognition software and video-based crowd analysis, is heavily involved in surveillance activities, particularly in East Turkistan (renamed Xinjiang by China.) The company operates a massive database that has been used to monitor the Uyghur population. In 2019, Victor Gevers, a Dutch security researcher, discovered that SenseNets had left a database exposed online without authentication. This database contained sensitive personal information on over 2.5 million individuals, including names, ID card details, home addresses, photos, and GPS tracking data. The system actively recorded millions of GPS coordinates daily, tracking individuals' movements across locations such as mosques, hotels, police stations, and restaurants. The database also included information on public camera locations, suggesting integration with government surveillance infrastructure. SenseNets is part of China's Skynet Project, a national mass surveillance system. The company also has connections to prominent AI researchers and institutions, such as the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as other major Chinese surveillance firms like SenseTime and Hikvision.
SenseTime, Hikvision, Skynet
Hong Kong
SenseTime is a leading Chinese AI company specializing in facial recognition and computer vision technologies. Their advanced algorithms enable real-time detection of faces and objects. It has been under scrutiny for its role in Uyghur surveillance.
Canada
Formerly known as formerly known as Magal Security Systems Ltd, Senstar Technologies incorporates analytics software and fiber optic sensing into a suite of surveillance solutions, enabling functionalities like facial recognition, license plate recognition, object tracking, and behavior analysis. They have reportedly sold surveillance equipment to over 100 countries worldwide. In 2021, the company completed the sale of their Integration Solution Division to Aeronautics Ltd., a subsidiary of Israeli defense technology company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. As part of the acquisition, Aeronautics acquired Senstar's facility in Yehud, Israel. They have development and manufacturing facilities located in Canada, and sales and support offices in the US, EMEA, China, and APAC regions.
Senstar Corporation, Perimeter Products Inc, Senstar-Stellar Ltd, ESC BAZ Ltd, WebSillicon Ltd, Senstar Stellar Latin America Sa De C.V., Magal Security Systems Ltd.
Israel
Septier is a company specializing in customized intelligence solutions for clients including law enforcement, homeland security, and telecom service providers. Their product lineup features advanced tools like Septier Guardian, which includes IMSI Catcher (a device that intercepts mobile phone communications and tracks users' location data), cellular extractor, cellular locator, and cellular firewall for censorship. Their offerings also include Septier LIMS (Lawful Interception and Monitoring System), which supports both active and passive interception of user data, and Septier Wi-Fi Catcher. Advertised services cover monitoring for voice, fax, and SMS messaging, as well as various data from web browsing to e-mail correspondences, instant messaging, VoIP, file transfers, and more, designed to “generate a comprehensive intelligence picture that fuses their targets’ entire span of communication overall sources," according to their website. The surveillance system has apparently been deployed at subsea cable landing stations, enabling Indian security agencies to monitor the personal data and communications of its 1.4 billion citizens.
Celtro
United States
ShadowDragon is a surveillance software that can identify aliases and collect personal data from various online sources in minutes. It is known to be used by the Polk County Sheriff's Department in Des Moines, Iowa as well as Michigan police departments, the Massachusetts State Police and other police departments throughout the U.S. It is also a contractor for the US government, including for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.)
United States
Shield AI develops AI-powered drones for intelligence gathering and surveillance in military operations. Its products include battlefield drone swarms, unmanned aircraft like the V-BAT, and advanced AI systems such as Hivemind, which enable autonomous mission execution across air, land, and sea with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. In July 2024, Shield AI's V-BAT secured a $198 million contract with the U.S. Coast Guard. It has also partnered with companies like Haivision and Sentient Vision Systems to enhance full-motion video AI object detection and wide-area surveillance with ViDAR technology. Israel uses its self-piloting drones in Gaza.
Haivision, Sentient Vision Systems
India
Shoghi, an Indian cyberintelligence firm founded by Harish Gupta, rose to prominence in the late 2000s under the leadership of Anant Bindal, a businessman from a powerful family in India. The company secured a large $200 million contract to supply India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), with advanced interception technologies, including IMSI-catchers and COMINT tools. The company became internationally recognized when it was named in WikiLeaks' "Spy Files" as part of a global surveillance industry catering to governments and intelligence agencies. Bindal later relocated to the UAE, where he founded Stratign, a Dubai-based firm that mirrors Shoghi's model of distributing and integrating interception solutions sourced from other companies.
Stratign
Russia
Signatek is a Russian company that provides SORM (System for Operative Investigative Activities) equipment, which is used for state surveillance and interception of communications. The company has supplied this technology to Kyrgyzstan, enabling the government to monitor and control communications within its borders. SORM systems are part of Russia's broader strategy of exporting surveillance technologies to neighboring countries, often aligning with authoritarian practices of information control.
Israel
Founded in Tel Aviv in 2007, SimilarWeb acquired the popular browser extension Stylish in 2017 and added spyware that collected the browsing history and personal information of its users.
Stylish
China
Sinovatio is a Chinese company specializing in the development and deployment of advanced surveillance technologies. The company creates high-tech solutions for video surveillance, facial recognition, and AI-powered monitoring systems, including incorporating AI to enhance the capabilities of traditional CCTV networks.
United States
Skydio, founded in 2014, is one of the leading U.S. drone manufacturers and world leader in autonomous flight technology. The company specializes in AI-powered drones equipped with advanced autonomous capabilities and computer vision systems. Since launching their R1 drone in 2018, Skydio has established itself as a prominent drones provider in the industry, serving over 1,200 enterprise customers including every branch of the U.S. military. Skydio became the first U.S. drone company to reach a $1 billion valuation, generating over $100 million in annual revenue in 2023, with 30% coming from software solutions. The company has a local office in Israel and sells its drones to the Israeli military. The Israeli company DefenSync is its authorized partner in Israel. Based on a report by Theia Chatelle, the Yale Police Department (YPD) utilized Skydio drones as part of their surveillance program targeting pro-Palestine student protesters. According to a Wired investigation, a Skydio X10 drone equipped with multiple high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging, powerful zoom capabilities, and onboard AI was detected monitoring pro-Palestine protesters at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, with the same drone later being spotted above the Israeli consulate during subsequent protests.
NVIDIA
China
Skynet (天网系统), China's massive surveillance infrastructure, represents one of the world's most extensive monitoring networks. Initially launched in 2005, the system has expanded dramatically from its original 20 million cameras to encompass approximately 170 million cameras by 2018, with plans to install an additional 400 million units across the country. The system features real-time monitoring capabilities, advanced AI-powered tracking systems, facial recognition technology, and a vast network of cameras to monitor public spaces and track individuals throughout China, as well as integration with other surveillance technologies. The central government oversees its operation through various agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security. The Skynet cameras have been strategically positioned across multiple sensitive locations, with installations found outside mosques in Xinjiang, temples in Tibet, and the residences of dissidents.
SenseNets, Axis Communications
United States
SmartFilter was a web filtering technology originally developed by Secure Computing Corporation (SCC). It was later owned by McAfee (which was acquired by Intel in 2011) after a merger in 2008. It has been used in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and other countries in the SWANA region for internet filtering and censorship purposes.
McAfee, Intel, Secure Computing Corporation
United States
Snaptrends, based in Austin, promoted social media analytics tools to authorities in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and other countries known to suppress online speech, according to confidential company documents and interviews with current and former employees. The company often approached potential customers during moments of social unrest. In 2014, Brandon Burris, Snaptrends co-founder and chief technology officer at the time, flew to Hong Kong as part of a $300,000 deal with a local holding company Faith Concord. According to corporate filings in China, Faith Concord owns BaoLiDa, which markets its ability to monitor citizens’ activities on the internet to the Chinese government.
BaoLiDa, Booz Allen Hamilton
United States
Social Links, now headquartered in New York after originally being based in Moscow, is a surveillance company that provides open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools. These tools are designed to gather, analyze, and visualize data from various open sources, including social media platforms, the dark web, and leaked databases, using AI models. Meta banned thousands of accounts associated with Social Links after accusing the company of mass-scraping Facebook and Instagram.
United States
Social Sentinel, now known as Navigate360, is a technology monitoring company that tracks students' social media behavior, claiming to identify risks of self-harm or violence on campuses and alert administrators. Reports indicate that the service has been used to monitor student protests and scrutinize individuals who have lodged complaints against university administrations. According to the Dallas Morning News, campus police used it to surveil student protests. Their investigation also uncovered that the company promoted its services to various universities as a way to manage and prevent protests. The documents suggest the company is expanding its scope, offering tools for monitoring student emails on university platforms.
Navigate360
United States
SocioSpyder is a software tool developed by Allied Associates International (A2I), designed to monitor and analyze social media activity. It allows law enforcement and intelligence agencies to collect, store, and analyze posts, tweets, videos, and chats from platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The tool can autonomously or on-demand compile this data into a searchable and graphable database. It also provides advanced features such as mapping user-to-user relationships and visualizing data to help analysts better understand social media interactions. The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service have used SocioSpyder for various intelligence operations. According to Motherboard, between August 2014 and September 2015, the FBI spent approximately $78,000 on the software and related licenses, while the U.S. Marshals Service spent around $22,500. Allied Associates International was acquired by Redhorse in October, 2023.
Redhorse, A2I
United States
SoundThinking was formerly known as ShotSpotter, Inc until it changed its corporate name in 2023. ShotSpotter, which retained its name as a product after the rebrand, relies on a network of acoustic sensors that monitor urban environments, effectively turning public spaces into zones of constant surveillance. The accuracy of ShotSpotter has been called into question, with reports indicating that the system can misidentify sounds, leading to unnecessary and dangerous police deployments as well as over-policing in various communities. ShotSpotter is linked to more than 100 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. Another one of their products, CrimeTracer, functions as a police database and search engine, repackaging and sharing vast amounts of data across a range of law enforcement agencies. The company further consolidated its position in the surveillance industry after acquiring Geolitica, the firm behind PredPol, a predictive policing technology criticized for exacerbating racial inequalities by directing police to already heavily surveilled communities. This merger builds on SoundThinking's previous acquisition of HunchLab in 2018 to provide AI-driven analysis and “predictive policing.” In addition to police departments, SoundThinking also has contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense in the military market and also maintains a partnership with Israeli weapons manufacturer Airobotics.
ShotSpotter, Geolitica, PredPol, HunchLab, CrimeTracer, Forensic Logic Inc, Genetec, Rekor Systems, Safepointe, Airobotics
Russia
SpeechPro, a Russian company specializing in speech recognition, facial recognition and voice biometrics, has its origins linked to a secretive Soviet technologies unit that operated under the KGB. According to Wired, the company's roots can be traced back to the Sharashka Marfino, a special prison for engineers and scientists during the Stalin era. In this facility, individuals plucked from various labor camps were coerced into developing technologies, including voice identification systems used for monitoring calls to foreign embassies in Moscow. According to its website, it worked with Saudi's Ministry of Interior to install an audio forensic lab in the Kingdom. The country operates in Russia under the name Speech Technology Center (STC.) In 2019, Sberbank, the state-controlled financial powerhouse, finalized the acquisition of a 51% stake in STC. Additionally, Digital Horizon, a venture capital and business incubator firm with offices in Moscow and Tel Aviv, also secured a stake in STC.
Speech Technology Center
United Arab Emirates
Spire Solutions is a distributor of Israeli surveillance and interception technologies in the United Arab Emirates. It's one of the primary distributors for XM Cyber, led by former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo and whose partnerships include Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli defense technology company behind sophisticated surveillance systems. The company also distributes technology from the Israeli firms Check Point Software Technologies Ltd and CyberArk Software Inc. Spire Solutions actively markets defense and intelligence tools from Germany's Rola Security Solutions. In addition, Spire has been working with Russian-Singaporean firm Group-IB, Britain's Digital Shadows and US company ThreatConnect.
Rola Security Solutions, XM Cyber, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, CyberArk Software Inc, Group-IB, Digital Shadows, ThreatConnect
Iran
The Spyhide stalkerware app, developed in Iran, has been collecting private data from tens of thousands of Android devices worldwide since 2016. The stalkerware app stays hidden on a victim's phone, silently uploading their contacts, messages, photos, call logs, and real-time location. Spyhide's database contained records of about 60,000 compromised Android devices, with close to two million location data points spanning every continent.
India
Staqu Technologies, an Indian AI startup, provides facial recognition technology to various government agencies in India. Its tools are used by law enforcement in multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh. The company has developed Crime GPT, an advanced AI-powered platform designed to assist law enforcement agencies. Crime GPT integrates generative AI capabilities with tools like facial recognition, voice-based search, and biometric analysis. It can process and analyze digitized records, including data from CCTV feeds, images, and audio inputs. Trinetra 2.0, launched in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Police, incorporates Crime GPT to enhance policing capabilities, to provide real-time AI-assisted insights for intelligence operations. Staqu's technology is also deployed in prisons. Additionally, Staqu has implemented other AI-driven surveillance products, such as its JARVIS platform, which is being used by the Gurugram Police for vehicle number plate recognition. This system utilizes existing CCTV cameras to automatically scan and verify number plates against official RTO data.
Trinetra 2.0, Crime GPT, JARVIS
United Arab Emirates
Stratign offers IMSI Catcher systems designed to collect basic identities (IMSI, IMEI) of 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile phones within their coverage area. The company's IMSI Catcher systems are available in various configurations, including standalone, backpack, vehicle-mounted, and drone-mounted versions. Their features include real-time monitoring, target location tracking, and the ability to manage cellular communications effectively. The company also offers facial recognition systems. Stratign primarily acts as a distributor, rebranding technologies from other companies and sometimes incorporating them into deals without the manufacturers' knowledge. The company is reportedly owned by Indian businessman Anant Bindal.
Singapore
Sunartek Labs, a Singapore-based surveillance technology firm founded in 2018, has emerged as a key player in the field of technical intelligence. The company, officially owned by Sumant Bindal, a former employee of Indian cyber-intelligence firm Shoghi, shares close ties with Stratign, a UAE-based defence technology provider led by Anant Bindal, the former CEO of Shoghi. Both companies offer overlapping solutions, including interception systems for phone and satellite communications, IMSI-Catchers, and advanced tools for OSINT, dark web investigations, and facial recognition. According to the company's official website, they serve clientele across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Shoghi, Stratign
United States
Susteen is a developer of mobile device forensic tools (MDFTs), which has enabled wider surveillance in U.S. schools. Originally designed for law enforcement and military applications, Susteen's tools, such as the Secure View system, allow users to bypass encryption and extract sensitive data from smartphones, including messages, photos, and app information. An investigation by Gizmodo revealed from public records that schools have quietly purchased these tools from several companies, including Susteen, with some districts spending thousands of dollars on MDFTs.
Russia
SyTech (Сайтек) is a Russian private IT contractor known for working with Russian intelligence and military agencies, including the FSB (Federal Security Service). The company gained international attention in 2019 when it was hacked by a group called 0v1ru$, which exposed internal documents detailing its involvement in secretive surveillance projects. Some of the leaked projects include Nautilus-S, aimed at de-anonymizing users of the Tor network by collecting and analyzing their data, Mentor, designed for monitoring and analyzing social media platforms, and Hope, a project dedicated to isolating the Russian internet (Runet) from the global internet.
Nautilus-S
Belarus
Synesis, a Belarusian technology firm, has gained notoriety for its role in the development and deployment of facial recognition systems used by Russian authorities to monitor and suppress dissent. Its flagship product, the Kipod platform, has been instrumental in tracking political activists and protesters, particularly in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The system has been integrated into Moscow's extensive surveillance network, which utilizes advanced algorithms to identify individuals in real-time, often leading to preemptive detentions of those critical of the government. Despite sanctions by the U.S, EU and the UK, reports indicate that Synesis continues to operate with support from technology belonging to major U.S firms, like Nvidia and Intel, which power the performance and efficiency of its algorithms. Synesis has been able to access U.S. technology through various channels, including third-party distributors. These components enable Synesis to process large volumes of data quickly and accurately, facilitating real-time facial recognition and identification.
Kipod
United Kingdom
TAG International is a security and intelligence consultancy formed in 2021 through the merger of Axiom International and Torchlight Group. The company is one of the main recipients of funding from the UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (UKSIF). TAG International has extensive involvement in surveillance activities, deploying advanced technologies and expertise to assist governments and organizations in data and intelligence gathering and analysis. Intelligence Online revealed that TAG International is operating a major training contract with the Saudi security forces under a secretive British government program.
Axiom International, Torchlight Group
Netherlands
A Dutch technology company whose surveillance cameras are used to surveil Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and by prison and police agencies worldwide.
FocalSpec, Laksgith Technologies, Nerian, Keyprocessor, ParkEyes, Euresys, JCAII, CAE Groupe, SVS-Vistek, Park Assist
United Kingdom
TRL Technology Limited was a UK-based company that sells surveillance technology, including a product called Marlin, which can intercept calls made on satellite phone networks. The company was acquired by L-3 Communications, which later changed its name to L3 Technologies and eventually merged with Harris Corporation to form L3Harris Technologies.
L3Harris Technologies
Israel
Tactic Labs, a subsidiary of the Avnon Group, is a developer of interception technologies, including IMSI-catchers and WiFi interceptors. A key offering is their Wi-Fi sniffer, an untraceable device that grants access to nearby Wi-Fi networks, cellular devices, and computers, allowing operators to collect private user data.
Avnon Group, Bler
Israel
Tangles is a surveillance tool developed by Cobwebs Technologies, which was founded in Israel by former members of Israeli military special units and acquired by PenLink in 2023. Tangles operates as an AI-driven web platform that gathers data from the open, deep, and dark web. Its notable feature, WebLoc, allows clients to track the movements of mobile devices within a designated virtual area using geofencing, all without the need for a search warrant or subpoena. The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has used monitoring services from Cobwebs Technologies, including Tangles, for social media mining purposes. The Texas Observer reported that in June, 2024, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) finalized a five-year acquisition plan for Tangles in a deal worth nearly $5.3 million.
Cobwebs Technologies, PenLink
United States
Team Cymru is a cybersecurity company founded headquartered in Florida that has developed significant data monitoring and threat intelligence capabilities. One of the company's platforms, Augury, bundles massive amounts of data purchased from the private sector and makes it available to government and corporate customers as a paid service. The tool claims to cover over 90% of the world's internet traffic, with multiple branches of the U.S. military collectively spending at least $3.5 million to access it. The platform provides access to sensitive data including email information, browsing history, and internet cookies. According to a U.S government procurement record reviewed by Motherboard, the data collection includes information from over 550 collection points worldwide, processing over 100 billion new records daily. A particularly controversial aspect emerged when a whistleblower contacted Senator Ron Wyden's office regarding the Naval Criminal Investigative Service's (NCIS) alleged warrantless use of this data. While Team Cymru maintains that their platform cannot be used to target specific individuals or show patterns of life, the procurement records reveal access to detailed information including packet capture data (PCAP), web browser activity, and netflow data. The company obtains netflow data through partnerships with ISPs, who receive threat intelligence in return, though it's noted that ISP users are likely unaware their data is being shared and subsequently sold.
Augury, Amplicy
United States
TeleStrategies specializes in a wide range of monitoring technologies, including Internet, phone, and location monitoring, as well as analysis, biometrics, communications monitoring, and monitoring centers. Their headquarters is located in McLean, Virginia, with additional offices across the United States. It holds various training events around the world, including in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, targeting law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and defense officials. Hacking Team, which sold spyware to Ethiopia, Bahrain, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Azerbaijan and Turkey, while dismissing human rights and privacy concerns, participated in some of these trainings.
United Kingdom
Telinsol is a UK-based satellite communications consultancy which appears to have conducted international business transactions with vendors on behalf of Ariantel, an Iranian cellular carrier that was used in an Iranian government program to monitor and manipulate people's phones for surveillance purposes.
Ariantel
Kazakhstan
Tengri Lab, a Kazakhstan-based tech company, is a developer of surveillance and smart city technologies. As the driving force behind the Smart Aqkol project, Tengri Lab has transformed the small town of Aqkol into Kazakhstan's first smart city. The project integrates AI-powered surveillance cameras, thermal imaging, and data analytics to monitor the public, including for details like school attendance. These systems are managed through a centralized command center, which collects and analyzes data from sensors, cameras, and GPS trackers across the city.
Israel
Terrogence, now known as SenseCy, is an Israeli surveillance company founded by former intelligence officers. It built a massive facial recognition database called Face-Int. This database is populated with facial images of thousands of individuals, collected from platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and other online sources. The company's founders, including Shai Arbel, leveraged their expertise to create tools that gather intelligence through "virtual entities" - fake online profiles designed to infiltrate social media platforms and collect data and intelligence from users. Terrogence provides intelligence services to entities such as the U.S. government, including the NSA and Navy. The company was acquired by the Israeli surveillance giant Verint in 2017, and is now part of a suite offered by Cognyte, which was spun off of Verint in 2021.
Face-Int, Verint, SenseCy, Cognyte
Russia
Tevian is a company that specializes in advanced computer vision technologies, particularly focusing on facial recognition and video analytics. Tevian was imposed European sanctions in July 2023 due to involvement in “serious human rights violations in Russia,” including “arbitrary arrests and detentions.”
NtechLab, Toloka
Israel
The Gospel is an AI target-creation platform which provides assasination targets in Palestine. The system has significantly accelerated the process of identifying and recommending targets, allowing Israel to strike many more locations. There are also concerns about the accuracy of the system and its heavy impact on civilians. The Gospel is powered by intel such as intercepted communications, surveillance data and information drawn from monitoring the movements and behaviour patterns of individuals and large groups in Palestine.
Lithuania
ThetaByte, registered in Lithuania and founded and headed by Israeli businessman Shay Tal, created the WebMine2Go platform, a tool designed to gather data from social networks as well as the clear web, deep web, and dark web, analyzing it to uncover connections. The company offers more advanced services, including tactical communication interception, to monitor the activities of online targets.
WebMine2Go
China
Tiandy Technologies is a video surveillance equipment manufacturer whose products have reportedly been used in the vast network of cameras monitoring Uyghurs in East Turkistan (renamed Xinjiang by China). Tiandy Technologies has sold its surveillance cameras to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and other security services, according to a Tiandy website and social media posts. Intel Corp., one of America’s major semiconductor firms, lists the Chinese company as a partner, providing Intel-made processors for some of Tiandy’s video recording equipment. Intel Corp., one of America’s major semiconductor firms, lists the Chinese company as a partner, providing Intel-made processors for some of Tiandy’s video recording equipment.
Intel
United States
TigerSwan is a global firm founded in 2008 by James Reese, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former Delta Force commander. The company led the surveillance operations and infiltration of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests at Standing Rock. Hired by Energy Transfer, the company behind the pipeline, TigerSwan used a range of methods to monitor and disrupt the Indigenous-led resistance movement. These tactics included the use of undercover operatives, aerial surveillance, social media monitoring, and the creation of detailed dossiers on activists. The firm also collaborated with law enforcement, sharing intelligence and supporting legal actions against protestors. Following its involvement at Standing Rock, TigerSwan sought to profit from its surveillance tactics by marketing its "counterinsurgency" playbook to other energy companies. The firm created detailed marketing materials and presentations, pitching its strategies to corporations like ConocoPhillips and Dominion Energy, which were involved in other contentious oil and gas projects.
United Arab Emirates
ToTok was a messaging app that gained popularity in the UAE and other countries before it was removed from app stores in late 2019 over allegations that it was a spyware tool used by the UAE government to monitor its users. The app claimed to offer secure messaging, voice, and video calling features, but reports emerged suggesting that it was actually used to track users' conversations, locations, and social connections. ToTok's only registered shareholder is Group 42, also known as G42, whose CEO, Peng Xiao, previously led Pegasus, a subsidiary of DarkMatter, a UAE-based firm known for employing former CIA, NSA, and Israeli intelligence personnel. G42's website also indicates that PAX AI is a subsidiary, which is another name under which Pegasus operates.
G42, DarkMatter, Project Raven
Israel
Toka, an Israeli which focuses on helping law enforcement hack into Internet of Things devices like Amazon Echos for forensics or during property raids. Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak is one of Toka's cofounders. As of December, 2024, the company has raised $37.5 million since its founding in 2018 and works exclusively with governments, including U.S. agencies, militaries, and law enforcement. Toka is expanding its U.S. operations, hiring roles like a “Client Director USA” to grow its business with the Department of Defense and national security agencies, as well as a customer success engineer to assist clients with deployment and training. The company has declined to comment on specific U.S. government activities. Toka recruited Mike Stahala, a former FBI attaché in Ankara, Turkey, to be part of its team based out of the company's Washington office in the U.S.
Netherlands
Toloka, an Amsterdam-based Yandex subsidiary, is helping develop the facial recognition software Russia uses to massively track and arrest protesters, according to research by Follow the Money, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, and Paper Trail Media. The two Russian companies Toloka works with are both on the EU sanctions list.
Yandex, NTechLab, Toloka, Tevian
Virgin Islands, British
Toru Group, run by Israeli national Assaf Elias, serves as an intermediary in facilitating the global sale of advanced surveillance and spyware technologies. The company has reportedly acted as a middleman for deals involving firms linked to Tal Dilian's surveillance empire, including Passitora and Intellexa. In June 2021, Toru Group won a bid to supply Bangladesh with a “Vehicle Mounted Mobile Interceptor” spy vehicle. The spy van, delivered in mid-2022, is reportedly in use by Bangladeshi authorities, with its surveillance tools allegedly leading to the dismissal of police officers accused of criticizing the government in private WhatsApp groups.
Intellexa
Switzerland
Travizory is a Swiss company that develops advanced border and surveillance technology. Its primary product, the API-PNR Targeting System, utilizes real-time traveler data, including Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Records (PNR), to assess "risks" and identify individuals of interest before they cross borders. The system integrates AI-powered profiling and automated alerts for use by border officials, connecting governments with transport operators, and uses its AI for decision-making on which passengers to prevent from entering a country. According to a report by Wired, Travizory uses its algorithms to analyze up to 150 variables, including travel patterns, connections to known persons of interest, and anomalies in behavior. For example, the system can flag travelers whose behavior deviates from typical patterns, such as short visits with excessive luggage or unusual spending habits. These assessments are used to generate risk classifications, which are shared with government agencies, including customs, immigration, and intelligence services. Currently operational in Kenya and the Seychelles, Travizory is also in discussions to expand its system to 20 other African countries.
Germany
Trovicor originated as part of Siemens' voice and data recording division. This division became part of Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) in 2007, a joint venture between Siemens and Nokia Oyj. In March 2009, NSN sold the division, known then as Intelligence Solutions, to Perusa Partners Fund. This move was partly to disassociate NSN from the contentious surveillance industry and its extensive human rights violations. Perusa subsequently rebranded the division as Trovicor, while retaining much of the original equipment and workforce from before the sale. Trovicor’s surveillance and interception products have enabled Bahrain’s government to spy on and arrest journalists and dissidents. Trovicor also has a partnership with Gamma Group, developer of the notorious FinFisher spyware. In 2009, when the company was part of NSN, Trovicor sold surveillance technology to Iran. The company is now known as Data Fusion.
Nokia Siemens, FinFisher, Gamma Group, Data Fusion, Nexa Technologies
United States
TruePosition markets its "location intelligence" (LOCINT) technology to intelligence and law enforcement agencies worldwide. Over the past four years, the company has expanded its tracking technology globally. In the U.S., TruePosition sells its products to mobile carriers, although it remains vague about any usage by the U.S. government. Internationally, it supplies governments, without disclosing specific clients. Since the introduction of LOCINT in 2008, there has been significant interest from defense and interior ministries globally. In 2016, TruePosition released its TrueFix Location System. The system offers M2M/IoT capabilities, improving its location tracking services.
Italy
Tykelab, a little-known company based in Rome, has been utilizing dozens of phone networks, often located on remote Pacific islands, to send tens of thousands of secret “tracking packets” worldwide. These packets target individuals in countries such as Libya, Nicaragua, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Iraq, Mali, Greece, and Portugal, as well as within Italy itself. Tykelab exploits longstanding but often unaddressed vulnerabilities in global phone networks, allowing third parties to track phone users’ locations and potentially intercept their calls without leaving any trace on the devices. Tykelab’s parent company, RCS Lab, has also developed a powerful phone hacking tool called Hermit. Once installed on a victim’s device, Hermit can remotely activate the phone’s microphone, record calls, access messages, call logs, contacts, photos, and other sensitive data.
RCS Lab, Hermit
United Kingdom
A joint venture company, UAV Tactical Systems Ltd (U-TacS), based in Leicester, has been set up by Thales UK and Elbit to produce the Watchkeeper system in the UK. The Watchkeeper UAV provides intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability to the UK armed forces. Reports show that it has been field-tested on Palestinians in collaboration with the Israeli government.
Elbit Systems, Thales
Cyprus
UTX provides mobile device tracking software. It's based in Cyprus and is also registered in Lithuania. It was acquired by surveillance giant Verint in 2014. It is now considered a Cognyte subsidiary.
Verint, Cognyte
China
Uniview, also known as Zhejiang Uniview Technologies, or by its abbreviation UNV, develops and deploys video surveillance systems, including "infrared antiriot" cameras and software that enable real-time image sharing by police agencies across jurisdictions. Uniview's systems are used to suppress political and religious dissent, particularly in regions like Tibet. In 2017, Uniview was revealed to be a reseller and alliance partner of Quantum Corporation, a U.S data storage and management company. According to the Asian Venture Capital Journal, Uniview was a corporate carve-out of Hewlett-Packard's China-based surveillance business. It was purchased by Bain Capital, and then sold to China Transinfo Technology Co. Ltd.
Intel, Quantum Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, China Transinfo
Germany
Utimaco is a cybersecurity and compliance solutions provider, known for offering surveillance technology that supports data interception and retention. Their key product in this area is the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS), which is used by law enforcement agencies to monitor and intercept communications data within a network. This system facilitates the interception of voice, data, and internet traffic, ensuring that the intercepted information can be securely transferred to law enforcement monitoring facilities. According to the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Utimaco was involved in supporting a centralized surveillance system operated by Syrian Telecom, even as late as 2011 when protests against Assad's regime began. Syrian Telecom, which is closely linked to the government and reportedly controlled by Syrian intelligence, closely collaborated with Utimaco on this project. Utimaco partnered with the Italian company Area SpA and the French firm Qosmos SA for this work. Utimaco was implicated in Iran's surveillance activities through its involvement in providing technology used for monitoring communications. In 2006, Nokia's German unit purchased Utimaco software for MTN Irancell, Iran's second-largest mobile operator. This software became part of a lawful-interception system, enabling Iranian authorities to monitor and store communications, including phone calls and text messages. In 2022, Utimaco was acquired from the previous owner EQT Partners by SGT Capital. Utimaco's distributor in the United Arab Emirates is Bulwark Technologies, founded by Indian engineer Jose Menacherry.
Area SpA, Qosmos SA, Bulwark Technologies
South Africa
In a 2016 pamphlet produced by VASTech SA Pty Ltd., the company outlines its current capabilities for governments, militaries, and law enforcement agencies around the world, claiming it can conduct “passive detection” of communications transmitted from satellites, fix-and-mobile phones, and fiber optic cable. One of its systems is called Zebra. VASTech says Zebra offers "access to high volumes of information generated via telecommunication services for the purposes of analysis and investigation". It has been designed to "intercept all content and metadata of voice, SMS, email and fax communications on the connected network, creating a rich repository of information".
Zebra
Spain
Variston Information Technology, founded in Barcelona in 2018, specializes in the development and distribution of spyware and related infrastructure. The company acquired TrueL IT, known for its expertise and exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities, and works with Protect Electronic Systems to market its products. Variston has also strong ties with Edge Group's cyber subsidiary, a UAE-owned defense company.
Protect Electronic Systems, TrueL
India
Vehere is a surveillance technology company founded in 2006. With headquarters in both India and the United States, Vehere provides advanced interception and monitoring services designed to assist telecom companies in intercepting calls and data. On its official website, Vehere advertises its capability to collect and analyze mass data "from diverse communication network sources, including telephone calls, mobile data, and Internet-based services such as email, voiceover-IP, instant messaging, and others."
Israel
U.S.-Israeli company Verint provides sophisticated eavesdropping equipment, including "monitoring centers" that allow for the interception, monitoring, and analysis of both targeted and mass communications across various networks. These systems are integrated into a country's communication infrastructure and are capable of intercepting phone calls and emails from millions of citizens, storing the data for analysis. Verint's technology is employed in over 75 countries and can be used for nationwide mass interception, voice identification, and data mining to build detailed profiles of individuals. Verint sold their technology to repressive regimes worldwide, including in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, South Sudan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The technology sold to Azerbaijan was reportedly used to identify the sexual orientations of individuals through social media, leading to the targeting and arrest of LGBTQ+ individuals. In Bahrain, Verint products have been used to gather data from social networks, contributing to the repression of dissidents for their online activities. Additionally, in Indonesia, Verint's technology has been employed to compile databases of LGBTQ+ rights activists and monitor religious minorities. Verint has also been linked to surveillance operations in South Sudan, where it provided communications interception equipment and support services to the government. This arrangement required the telecommunications company Vivacell to pay Verint over $762,000 to facilitate the interception of citizens' communications, as reported by Amnesty International.
Conversocial Inc, Quidini Limited, Cognyte Brasil SA, Telligent Inc, OpinionLab Inc, Kana Software, Verint Americas Inc, Bpa International Inc, Vovici Corporation, Verint CES India Private Ltd, ForeSee Results Inc, Contact Solutions LLC, Next IT Corporation, U-TX Technologies Ltd, Wifense S.L, SmartSight Networks Inc, Euclipse Ltd, X Subsidiary Inc, Verint Systems Canada Inc, Permadeal Limited, Verint Technology Cyprus Ltd, MultiVision Holdings Ltd, GMT Corporation
United States
Verkada specializes in providing cloud-based enterprise video surveillance systems. In 2021, Verkada was breached, giving hackers access to over 150,000 surveillance cameras inside hospitals, organizations, police departments, prisons and schools.
Italy
Videotec was an Italian company that specializes in the design and manufacture of professional video surveillance equipment. During a June 2018 Who Profits field tour in the old city of Jerusalem, Videotec cameras were documented as part of the surveillance system in the occupied area. The company’s official distributer in Israel is Mal-Tech Technological Solutions, a private Israeli company owned by Moshe Amzel. Mal-Tech provides solutions to the Israeli government such as cameras and network devices. It provides equipment to security bodies such as the Israeli army, the Israeli Police and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. In 2022, it was acquired by Motorola Solutions.
Motorola Solutions, ISS- Intelligent Security System, Sightlogix, Sony Security Systems, Milestone Systems, Genetec, digivod, Bosch, Axis Communications
Israel
Vigilant Technology is an Israeli company that provides high-end CCTV and IP-based digital video and audio surveillance. Their technology is used by various governments, police departments and also deployed in prisons.
Pelco
Netherlands
VisionLabs is a Russian-founded computer vision developer headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company is best known for its facial recognition technology, which is used in over 60 countries for digital identity purposes. In 2021, it was acquired by MTS, Russia’s largest telecoms operator.
MTS
Hong Kong
Headquartered in Hong Kong with additional offices in China and Taiwan, Vixtel specializes in developing network monitoring software tailored for mobile and fixed-line network operators, large enterprises, and national security departments, with a particular emphasis on mobile network operators. It's now known as International Business Digital Technology Limited.
International Business Digital Technology Limited
Israel
Between 2018 and 2019, dozens of journalists were targets of Colombian military intelligence using an open-source monitoring tool sold by Voyager Labs called VoyagerAnalytics.
VoyagerAnalytics
France
Vupen Security was a French information security company founded in 2004 and based in Montpellier with a U.S. branch based in Annapolis, Maryland. Its specialty was in discovering zero-day vulnerabilities in software from major vendors in order to sell them to law enforcement and intelligence agencies which use them to achieve cyber operations. One of the company's co-founders, Chaouki Bekrar, is also the founder of Zerodium, a cybersecurity company known for its controversial business model of purchasing zero-day vulnerabilities and exploits from security researchers and then selling them to government agencies and private entities, including law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Zerodium
Israel
Wayout Group is a discreet Israeli company founded in 2018 by Gil Dolev, whose sister Shiri Dolev was NSO's head of operations. The company operated as a subsidiary of the NSO Group after an acquisition in the range of $20 million, and was later sold to Goatilev, a company controlled by NorthPole, the financial vehicle of Novalpina Capital, which also oversees Q Cyber Technologies (of which NSO Group is a registered subsidiary.) The company develops tools that compromise routers and intercepts Internet of Things (IoT) data, providing law enforcement and intelligence agencies with the ability to covertly gather information from connected devices. Its team is composed largely of former officers from Israel's Unit 8100 and Unit 8200.
NSO Group, Q Cyber Technologies, Goatilev, Candiru, Allot Communications, AudioCodes
China
WeChat, known as Weixin in China, is a multifunctional messaging app developed by Tencent. It has become one of the most popular social networking platforms in China and is widely used for communication, social networking, mobile payments, and more. Users are required to register with their real identities, tying their activities on WeChat to their personal information. This facilitates tracking and monitoring by authorities. Tencent, the company behind WeChat, complies with Chinese government requests for user data and content removal. This includes providing access to user communications and metadata under legal requirements. An investigation by Citizen Lab revealed that WeChat conducts surveillance of images and files shared on the platform, even for users outside of China. This surveillance is used to train censorship algorithms and build up the censorship system for WeChat's China-registered users. WeChat scans documents for sensitive text and images for both text and visual content, flagging MD5 hashes (a kind of digital fingerprint) of politically sensitive files. In 2020, it was revealed that WeChat conducts extensive content surveillance on communications among non-China-registered accounts as well.
Tencent, QQ Browser, QQ
China
Weibo, also known as Sina Weibo, analyzes user behavior and interactions to identify patterns that might indicate dissent or non-compliance with government policies.
Israel
A smartphone app used by illegal Israeli settlers to access confidential data about Palestinian workers.
Cyprus
WiSpear sells long range mission intelligence vehicles whose technology can target any WiFi signal and intercept to steal data, passwords, and other communications. Founded by Tal Dilian, who also founded Cytrox, the spyware company behind Predator and part of the Intellexa Alliance. It was initially known as Aveledo Ltd, before rebranding to WiSpear, and the company now operates under the name Passitora, which lists its manager as Miftah Shamir Holdings. In summer 2021, Bangladesh bought a spy vehicle from Passitora. The Swiss company Toru Group Limited, registered in the British Virgin Islands, served as an intermediary for the agreements made with Passitora.
Passitora
Israel
Wintego Systems, founded by alumni of Verint, another Israeli firm that engages in surveillance activities, develops advanced communication, intelligence, and data-decoding solutions for the government and homeland security sectors. According to a company brochure, its spyware “uses Wi-Fi to obtain secured data from web accounts (cloud services) and apps, including the entire contents of email, photos, files, chats, social network activity, contact lists, and calendars.” In 2016, it was revealed by Forbes that Wintego was marketing its surveillance capabilities, specifically CatchApp, by claiming it can siphon off all WhatsApp chats, including encrypted communications, from phones within close proximity of a hidden WiFi hacking device in a backpack. This is apparently enabled by Wintego's WINT product, a device that acts as a "data extraction solution" that can "obtain the entire contents of your targets' email accounts, chat sessions, social network profiles, detailed contact lists, year-by-year calendars, files, photos, web browsing activity, and more."
Germany
Wolf Intelligence, a Germany-based firm, sold spyware, surveillance and hacking technologies to governments around the world. The company was further exposed when it accidentally left 20 gigabytes of sensitive data exposed online, including information from infected targets, recordings of customer meetings, and personal details of its founder. The data was discovered by CSIS Security on an unprotected server and public Google Drive folder. Despite the company's claims that a reseller was responsible, evidence suggests the exposure was due to Wolf Intelligence's own operational failures.
Russia
X-Agent, also known as Sofacy or Fancy Bear, is a sophisticated malware tool widely attributed to the Russian hacking group APT28, believed to be linked to the Russian military intelligence agency GRU. First identified in 2014, X-Agent has been used in various cyber-espionage campaigns targeting government, military, and media organizations. The malware is capable of collecting sensitive information, such as passwords and keystrokes, and has been deployed across different platforms, including Windows, Linux, and iOS.
Sofacy, Fancy Bear, APT28
Singapore
XRVision, a company founded by Yaacov Apelbaum and Guy Ron, is a provider of AI-driven facial recognition and video analytics tools. The company has secured contracts with government agencies including the US Customs and Border Protection in 2019 to deploy its facial recognition technology at the US border. Services for that contract include: "software for wearable devices, mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, namely, software for matching human face images; Computer application software for wearable devices, mobile phones, tablets, and laptops for video analytics, namely, software for matching human faces and performing face recognition." XRVision is also backed by Boundary Holding, a Luxembourg-based private equity firm led by Rajat Khare, who has a history of cyber-espionage through his firm Appin Security. Apelbaum, XRVision's co-founder, has deep ties to the surveillance and intelligence industries. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer at AGT International, a Swiss-based firm that developed the Falcon Eye surveillance system for the UAE authorities.
AGT International, Appin Security
Israel
Xtend is an Israeli drone manufacturer. Their Xtender is a miniature indoor drone controlled via virtual reality goggles, allowing operators to conduct intrusive surveillance missions. Their Scorpio drone is also designed for surveillance and combat. Equipped with cameras, sensors, and even lethal payloads, these drones use Xtend’s OSX operating system for human-assisted autonomy, enabling automated navigation and multi-drone coordination. The company works closely with the U.S Department of Defense as well as the Israeli military.
China
Xuexi Qiangguo, translated as "Study the Great Nation," is a mobile application launched by the Chinese government in early 2019. While initially promoted as an educational tool to promote Xi Jinping Thought and Party ideology, Xuexi Qiangguo has evolved into a multifaceted platform that also serves as a surveillance and monitoring tool. Beyond tracking user activities within the app, Xuexi Qiangguo also collects personal data to create detailed profiles of users for surveillance purposes. The app's gamified structure ties into China's broader social credit system, where positive engagement with Party propaganda content can contribute to a higher social credit score. Negative activities or associations can result in penalties, restrictions or imprisonment. The app was developed in collaboration with the Chinese tech giant Alibaba.
Alibaba
China
YITU is a Chinese company that specializes in surveillance technology. The company has gained recognition for its advanced capabilities in facial recognition, so much so that it won first place in a 2017 facial recognition algorithm contest held by the United States government's Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Yitu provides high-tech surveillance in the UAE, where it maintains an office in Abu Dhabi. Yitu Limited owns or controls, directly or indirectly, Shanghai Yitu Technology Co., Ltd. (Yitu), an entity that operates or has operated in the surveillance technology sector of the economy of the PRC. Yitu has been involved in developing facial recognition technology that looks exclusively for Uyghurs and has been integrated into China’s rapidly expanding networks of surveillance cameras. In addition, Yitu has established an overseas office to export its surveillance technology to foreign law enforcement agencies. Yitu has gained wide recognition for its Dragonfly Eye System, a facial scanning platform that can identify a person from a database of at least 2 billion people in a matter of seconds.
Shanghai Yitu Technology Co., Ltd, Dragonfly Eye System
Israel
Zencity is an Israeli data analytics company that helps local governments monitor public sentiment by analyzing social media, message boards, local news, and other public data sources. Serving over 200 agencies across the United States, its platform is used by U.S cities like Phoenix, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh to track public reactions to topics. It also enables police agencies to track negative sentiment toward law enforcement without residents' knowledge or consent. The lack of public oversight in contracts with Zencity, often approved without city council input, has led to criticism that usage of the tool prioritizes surveillance over genuine community engagement.
United States
Zero Security Research Labs is a zero-day vulnerability reseller that also offers intelligence-gathering systems, including IMSI-catchers and Wi-Fi interception tools. One of their primary products, Xperia-Active, enables the capture of IMSI, IMEI, and TMSI data, as well as real-time communication interception. The company is founded by Andres Acosta, Azizjon Mamashoev, and James Grandoff, and is headquartered in Florida, USA.
United States
ZeroFox is a "threat intelligence" company that provides services to identify and analyze potential threats on the internet, including social media platforms. The company has been contracted by the FBI, with a $14 million agreement via reseller CMA Technology, to assist in social media surveillance and intelligence operations. In 2015, ZeroFox labeled peaceful Black Lives Matter (BLM) leaders, such as DeRay McKesson and Johnetta Elzie, as "threat actors" requiring "continuous monitoring." This designation was made without evidence of criminal activity. In February 2024, the company was acquired by Haveli Investments, a technology-focused private equity firm.
Haveli, CMA Technology
United States
Zerodium is a cybersecurity company known for its controversial business model of purchasing zero-day vulnerabilities and exploits from security researchers and then selling them to government agencies and private entities, including law enforcement and intelligence agencies. One of these exploits was used to spy on Ahmed Mansoor, a blogger in the United Arab Emirates who covers human rights violations and is critical of the government.
Vupen Security
United States
Zignal Labs is a San Francisco-based big data analytics company specializing in real-time media monitoring and business intelligence. Founded by Josh Grinsberg, the company helps clients monitor, analyze and organize data from social media and other online platforms. In partnership with Qorvis Communications, a long-standing lobbying firm for Saudi Arabia, Zignal Labs has been contracted to provide surveillance activities on behalf of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.
Qorvis Communications
China
iFLYTEK is an artificial intelligence and voice recognition company. Its technologies have reportedly been used to monitor communications and identify Uyghur voices in Xinjiang.
Australia
iOmniscient is a developer of AI-driven surveillance technologies, offering monitoring solutions like facial recognition, behavioral analytics, and crowd management. Their technology has been deployed in over 50 countries. In Hong Kong, the company’s AI tools were suspected to be used by police to identify individuals in crowds and match faces against databases during the 2019 pro-democracy protests. iOmniscient's technology is also employed by the Saudi Customs Department at the Al Hadithah border crossing between Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Its clients also include the Chinese army. The company's facial recognition system claims to be highly advanced, capable of identifying and matching faces against databases even in crowded and uncontrolled environments. The system can track individuals across multiple non-overlapping cameras, providing continuous monitoring of their movements. The system integrates with video management tools, such as those provided by Cisco, to alert law enforcement in realtime. The company partnered with Cisco to install its facial recognition technology at the University of San Francisco. iQ-Prison is iOmniscient’s surveillance product for prisons.
Cisco, Huawei, Dell, Intel, Oracle, Lenovo, Microsoft, Thales, Bosch
South Africa
iSolv Technologies is a South African-based company that develops communication monitoring and interception systems. It primarily caters to law enforcement and intelligence agencies worldwide. Its products, such as the Recall Monitoring Centre (RMC), enable targeted and mass surveillance of fixed-line, mobile, and internet communications. Other products include IP Intercept, a solution for intercepting IP-based communications. The company maintains a partnership with Microsoft.
Microsoft
Ukraine
mSpy is a commercial spyware application, available for purchase online through their official website and other platforms, offering different subscription plans based on the features and duration of monitoring desired. Features include call monitoring, messaging and email tracking, location tracking and geofencing alerts, browser history logs, app usage and installations. mSpy supports a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Android and iOS. mSpy’s owners is a Ukraine-based company called Brainstack.
Brainstack
United States
pcTattletale was a remote surveillance app, commonly referred to as "stalkerware", designed to secretly track people without their knowledge. The app allowed the person who planted it to remotely view screenshots and private data from the victim's Android or Windows device from anywhere in the world. Although pcTattletale marketed itself as a tool for monitoring employees, it also openly promoted its use for spying on spouses and domestic partners without their consent. The spyware required physical access to the target's device for installation and could be quickly deployed with just one click. The company also offered a "We Do It For You" service to assist in installing the spyware on a target's computer. According to TechCrunch, pcTattletale was used to compromise the front desk check-in systems at several Wyndham hotels across the United States, exposing screenshots containing guest details and customer information. The company has since ceased operations after a data breach.
United States
safeXai is the entity that has quietly resumed the operations of Banjo, a digital surveillance company whose founder, Damien Patton, was a former Ku Klux Klan member who’d participated in a 1990 drive-by shooting of a synagogue near Nashville, Tennessee. Banjo developed real-time surveillance technology that monitored social media, traffic cameras, satellites, and other sources to detect and report on events as they unfolded. In Utah, Banjo's technology was used by law enforcement agencies.
Banjo
United Kingdom
MD ONE describes itself as "Europe's first Defence and National Security Venture Capital team dedicated to supporting applied DeepTech innovation for the UK, Europe and Allies."
Germany
Material V is a venture capital firm based in Monaco, Bayern, Germany.
United States
Silicon Valley Bank, a financial partner and investor, served the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay Area until its collapse in March 2023 when it was acquired by First Citizens Bank.
Japan
SoftBank Group Corp is a Japanese multinational investment holding company based in Minato, Tokyo, specializing in investment management. It operates through several prominent investment subsidiaries, including the SoftBank Vision Fund, one of the largest technology-focused investment funds globally (over $100 billion in capital), as well as the SoftBank Latin America Fund and SoftBank Investment Advisers. Its investors include prominent sovereign wealth funds from West Asia, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.
United States
Spectre Holdings is a private investment firm that focuses on investments in deep technology, space technology, government contracting, and consumer products sectors.
United States
137 Ventures is a multi-stage venture capital firm headquartered in San Francisco, California. It has over $3 billion in assets under management (AUM) since its founding in 2011.
Canada
1832 Asset Management L.P. (“1832 AM L.P.”) is one of Canada’s largest asset managers with over $151.1 billion in assets under management on behalf of retail, institutional and private client investors.
United States
35V (aka Thirty Five Ventures) is the family office of NBA player Kevin Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman.
France
Founded in 1997, 360 Capital is a Pan-European early-stage venture capital firm based in Paris and Milan.
United Kingdom
3i Group is a British private equity and venture capital firm specializing in mid-market investments in private equity, infrastructure, and debt management.
China
5Y Capital is a firm providing early-stage venture investments and headquartered in Xuhui, Shanghai, China.
United States
Seven Seven Six (also known as 776) is a venture capital investment firm founded by Alexis Ohanian in 2020.
United States
8VC is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas.
United States
AE Industrial Partners is a Florida-based investment group that specializes in "national security" related businesses.
United States
AEI HorizonX is a venture capital partnership between AE Industrial Partners and Boeing, investing in aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
United States
AI Grant is an accelerator program established in 2017 by Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross.
United States
AME Cloud Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, founded in 2012 by Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo!
United States
ARK Investment Management, founded in 2014 by Cathie Wood, is an investment management firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida.
United States
AT&T Ventures is a corporate venture capital fund primarily making early-stage investments ranging from Seed funding up to Series B stage companies.
United States
Accel Partners is a prominent venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage and growth-stage technology investments. Founded in 1983, Accel is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and has a strong presence in both the United States and international markets, including Europe and India.
United States
Adams Street Partners is a global private markets investment management firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1972, the firm specializes in early to late-stage venture capital, private equity, and growth investments.
United States
Addition is a venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2019 by Lee Fixel.
United States
Advent International is a Boston-based private equity firm founded in 1984, specializing in buyouts and growth equity investments.
United States
Akkadian Ventures is a San Francisco-based investment firm focusing on direct secondary investments.
United States
Alameda Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, investing in early-stage technology companies.
United States
Album VC is a venture capital firm based in Lehi, Utah, founded in 2014.
Israel
Aleph VC is a venture capital firm founded in 2013 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, focusing primarily on technology startups in Israel. Aleph is a partnership of Michael Eisenberg, Eden Shochat, Yael Elad and Tomer Diari, with $850M under management.
China
Alibaba Group, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, is a global developer in e-commerce, technology, and digital services. The company operates platforms like Alibaba.com, Taobao, and AliExpress.
United States
Aliya Capital Partners is a private equity firm that focuses on investments in middle-market companies.
China
Ally Capital, also known as Xiyu Ziben (曦域资本), is a private equity firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Shanghai, China.
Luxembourg
Alpha Intelligence Capital (AIC) is a Luxembourg-based venture capital firm founded in 2018, specializing in early-stage investments in deep Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technology companies.
United States
Previously Falcon Edge Capital, Alpha Wave Global is an international investment firm with offices in New York, London, Abu Dhabi and Bangalore.
United Kingdom
Founded in 1982, Alta Berkeley is a venture capital firm based in London, England. The company focuses on investing in early-stage and startup technology companies based in Europe and Israel.
Mexico
Alta Ventures Mexico is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2011, with offices in Monterrey and Mexico City.
United States
Alumni Ventures (formerly Alumni Ventures Group) is a venture capital investment firm headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA.
United States
American Capital Management, Inc. (ACM) is a boutique investment management firm, founded in 1980, with over $3 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023.
United States
Amplify Partners is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2012 by Sunil Dhaliwal.
United States
Andreessen Horowitz (also known as a16z) is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, USA. As of 2024, it has $43 billion under management across multiple funds.
United States
Angel Collective Opportunity Fund (ACOF) is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2020.
United States
Angel Investor Forum (AIF) is a Connecticut-based angel investment group founded in 2004, focusing on seed and early-stage investments.
United States
Anorak Ventures is a seed and early stage venture capital firm headquartered in San Francisco, California.
China
Ant Group, founded in October 2014 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, is a fintech company and a subsidiary of Alibaba Group.
United Kingdom
Apax Partners is a global private equity firm founded in 1969 and headquartered in London, UK. The firm specializes in investing in growth-oriented companies across various sectors, including technology. With a global presence, Apax Partners has offices in key financial centers, including New York, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv.
United States
Founded in 2018, Aperiam Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York, specializing in investments in marketing and advertising technology startups.
United States
Array Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2015, focusing on seed and early-stage investments.
United States
Asimov Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in New York City.
Germany
Atlantic Labs is a Berlin-based venture capital firm founded in 2013, providing seed and early-stage investments in software companies. The firm supports companies across Europe, with a particular emphasis on Germany and Denmark.
United States
Audax Private Equity is a private equity firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
United States
Avalon Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in La Jolla, California.
Israel
Aviv Venture Capital (AVC) is an Israeli venture capital firm that invests in mid-stage technology companies.
Israel
Avnon Holdings, founded in 1990 by Tomer Avnon, a former Israeli Navy SEAL, is a provider and funder of defense and intelligence technologies. The company offers integrated, national-scale surveillance products to governments, homeland security agencies, law enforcement, and special units in over 80 countries worldwide. Avnon initially established the group to bring advanced technologies and large-scale projects to special units of the IDF.
Canada
Awz Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in Toronto, Canada with offices in Israel and the U.S. It was founded in 2016 by Yaron Ashkenazi, who served for a decade in the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) VIP Protection Division, leading teams that provided services to several Israeli prime ministers. Its advisory board and strategic advisors include Dame Stella Rimington, former MI5 Director-General, James Woolsey, former CIA director, Tamir Pardo, former director of the Mossad, and Buck Revell, former FBI associate deputy director.
United States
Axon, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a public technology company that designs, produces, and markets products and services for law enforcement, military, corrections, and private security sectors. It was formerly named TASER International.
Luxembourg
BIP Investment Partners is a Luxembourg-based investment firm that focuses on private equity and venture capital. The company was established in 2000 as a joint venture between Banque Générale du Luxembourg (BGL), which later became part of Fortis Group and has since re-formed as BGL, along with several smaller partners, originally under the name BGL Investment Partners.
Hong Kong
Bank of China Group Investment Limited (BOCGI), founded in December 1984, is a Hong Kong-based private equity firm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank of China.
United Kingdom
BOOST & Co is a London-based venture debt provider founded in 2011, tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe.
United States
Brain Robotics Capital (aka BRC Innovation), founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is a venture capital firm focused on supporting scientist-entrepreneurs.
United States
Founded in 1984 by several former partners of consulting firm Bain & Company, Bain Capital manages approximately $155 billion in assets across multiple investment strategies.
United Kingdom
Balderton Capital is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2000.
United States
Banyan Fund, L.P. was founded in 2002 to provide mezzanine capital to smaller middle-market companies headquartered primarily in the Southeast of the United States.
Qatar
Barzan Holdings is the strategic investment arm of Qatar's Ministry of Defense and the commercial gateway for the country's military defense industry.
United States
Beacon Angels is a Boston-based angel investment group founded in 2006, specializing in seed and early-stage investments. The group focuses on small and fast-growing companies, typically investing between $100,000 and $300,000 per deal.
United States
Founded in 2018, Bedrock is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, USA.
United States
Benchmark is a prominent venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, California, known for its early-stage investments in technology startups. Founded in 1995, Benchmark has established itself as a key player in the venture capital industry, managing funds that focus on seed and early-stage investments.
United States
Bessemer Venture Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 1911, with headquarters in San Francisco, California. It has $19 billion in assets under management.
United States
BlackRock Inc. is the world's largest asset management firm, headquartered in New York City. Known for managing a diverse range of investment products and services, BlackRock oversees trillions of dollars in assets across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and cash management strategies.
United States
Bloomberg Beta is an early-stage venture capital fund based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2013 and backed by Bloomberg. It has over $375 million under management.
United States
Blum Capital Partners is an investment management firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 1975 by Richard Blum.
Germany
Bm-t Beteiligungsmanagement Thüringen (bm|t) is one of the largest and most active VC companies in Germany.
United States
Boeing HorizonX Ventures is the venture capital arm of Boeing, based in Chicago, Illinois, focused on investing in early-stage companies in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing.
Brazil
Bossa Invest, headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, is a venture capital firm specializing in seed and early-stage investments.
United States
Founded in 1997, Boston Millennia Partners is a private equity and venture capital firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm typically invests across various stages of a company's lifecycle, from early-stage ventures to later-stage growth opportunities. Boston Millennia Partners partners with entrepreneurs and management teams to provide strategic guidance, operational support, and access to its network of industry experts and resources.
Luxembourg
Boundary Holding is a deep-tech investment firm headquartered in Luxembourg, founded in 2016 by Rajat Khare, a hack-for-hire specialist.
United States
Bowman Capital was a private equity firm based in San Mateo, California. It is no longer active.
Hong Kong
Boyu Capital, founded in 2010, is a private equity and venture capital firm headquartered in Hong Kong, with additional offices in Beijing and Shanghai.
France
Bpifrance is a French public investment bank headquartered in Paris, specializing in financing and supporting businesses at all stages of development, from startups to large enterprises. Founded in 2013, it provides loans, guarantees, equity investments, and innovation funding.
United States
Breyer Capital is a global venture capital and private equity firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2006 by Jim Breyer.
Canada
Brightspark Ventures is a Montréal-based venture capital firm founded in 1999, specializing in early-stage investments in Canadian software.
Canada
The British Columbia Discovery Fund Inc. was established in 2002 to invest in eligible small businesses as part of British Columbia's venture capital program.
United States
BuildGroup is a venture capital and holding company based in Austin, Texas, USA.
United States
CAA Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund based in Los Angeles.
China
CAS Star, also known by its full legal name Xi'an Zhongke Chuangxing Technology Incubator Co., Ltd., is a venture capital firm and incubator founded in 2013 and headquartered in Xi'an, China.
Hong Kong
CCB International (CCBI), founded in 1984, is the investment services arm of China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB).
United States
CIT Group is a financial holding company founded in 1908 and headquartered in Pasadena, California. It also operates CIT Bank. In 2020, CIT Group merged with First Citizens Bank in a $2.2 billion stock deal.
Australia
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an Australian Government agency responsible for scientific research in Australia.
United States
Cacti is a micro venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2024.
United Kingdom
Cambridge Angels is a UK-based angel investment group composed of high-net-worth individuals.
Israel
Canaan Partners Israel is a venture capital firm headquartered in Israel, founded by Adi Pundak-Mintz and Ehud Levy.
Canada
Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF) is a Toronto-based venture capital firm, providing capital to privately-owned Canadian businesses. It is supported by Canada’s leading banks and insurance companies.
United States
Capital Group Companies is a global investment management firm founded in 1931 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It offers a broad range of mutual funds and other investment products. The firm operates through its subsidiaries, including American Funds, which is one of the largest mutual fund families in the world.
United States
Chaos Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2020 by Justin Smith.
United States
CRV (Charles River Ventures) is a venture capital firm founded in 1970 to commercialize research from MIT. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in technology companies and has raised over $4.3 billion across 18 funds.
United Kingdom
Charlotte Street Capital is an early stage venture capital firm based in London, United Kingdom.
Singapore
Chartered Group is a Singapore-based private equity and venture capital firm founded in 2000.
China
China Reform Holdings Corporation, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Beijing, China, is a state-owned asset management and private equity firm.
China
China UCF Group, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Beijing, China, is a private equity firm active primarily in the Asia-Pacific region.
United States
Christian Dahlen is a Silicon Valley-based angel investor and a member of the Band of Angels, the region's oldest seed funding organization.
China
Citic Securities Investment, a subsidiary of CITIC Securities, is an investment advisory firm headquartered in Beijing, China. It was founded in 2012.
United States
City Light Capital is a money management and business development firm based in Greenwich, CT, USA.
United States
Based in Oakland, CA, Claremont Creek Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in early-stage information technology companies, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Israel
Clear Future is a private venture capital fund based in Israel.
United States
Comet Labs, founded in 2015 by Melissa Pancoast and Saman Farid, is an early-stage venture capital fund and incubator based in San Francisco.
United States
Corazon Capital is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2014, focusing on early-stage investments.
United States
Corbin Capital Partners, headquartered in New York City, is a consulting firm specializing in investment strategies.
United States
Core Capital Partners, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a venture capital firm managing $350 million in private equity.
United States
Corner Ventures is a Palo Alto-based venture capital firm founded in 2018, specializing in growth-stage investments.
Germany
Cornerstone Capital is a private equity investor located in Frankfurt, Germany that focuses its investments on small and mid-sized companies.
United States
Cox Enterprises is a global media conglomerate that specializes in communications and automotive services headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
United States
Crosslink Capital is a premier early-stage venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 1989 and with over $1.3 billion in assets.
United States
Crossover Ventures, also known as CrossOver Fund Management, is a venture capital firm specializing in growth equity investments in technology companies. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Crossover Ventures manages over $2 billion in assets focused on late-stage venture capital and growth equity investments.
United States
Crumpton Ventures is a venture capital firm founded by Henry Crumpton and based in New York, specializing in investments in telecommunications, cybersecurity, and robotics.
United States
Cyber Mentor Fund is a San Mateo-based venture capital firm founded in 2018, providing early-stage investments in cybersecurity companies.
United States
D.E. Shaw & Co., founded in 1988 by David E. Shaw, is a global investment and technology development firm headquartered in New York City. The firm manages approximately $50 billion in assets across a range of investment strategies, including hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital.
United States
DCVC (Data Collective) is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2010 by Matthew Ocko and Zachary Bogue.
United States
Co-founded by Tim Draper, John Fisher, and Steve Jurvetson, DFJ Growth is a late-stage global venture capital firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
Canada
The DMZ is Toronto Metropolitan University's business incubator for early-stage technology startups.
United States
DNS Capital is a private investment firm founded by the D. E. Shaw Group’s co-founders, pursuing investments across various sectors, including technology and financial services. Founded in 2014, the firm focuses on both public and private equity investments.
United States
Founded in 2011, DNX Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in B2B startups.
India
Established in 1995, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is a central government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in India, headquartered in New Delhi.
Mexico
Dalus Capital is a venture capital firm based in Mexico City, Mexico, investing in early-stage technology companies in Latin America.
United States
David Howell Petraeus was a United States Army general who also served as the fourth director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Singapore
Decacorn Capital is a Singapore-based venture capital firm founded in 2015, specializing in seed and early-stage investments in tech startups.
United States
Dell Technologies Capital is the venture capital arm of Dell Technologies, headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Cayman Islands
Digital Horizon is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments in technology-driven companies. It was founded in 2017 and is registered in the Cayman Islands, with offices in London, UK and Tel Aviv, Israel.
Israel
Discount Capital is a direct investment firm based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Established in 1992, it serves as the private equity and venture capital arm of Israel Discount Bank Ltd. It invests directly in companies and business ventures as well as in investment funds.
Qatar
Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, Doha Venture Capital (DVC) is a Qatari venture capital firm investing in startups and growth-stage companies globally.
United States
E1 Ventures, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a data-driven venture capital firm specializing in tech investments, but primarily focusing on industries such as AI, machine learning, and aerospace.
Belgium
The EIC Fund is the venture investment arm of the European Innovation Council (EIC).
Canada
East Valley Ventures is a Saint John, New Brunswick-based Canadian investment firm founded in 2011. It operates as an accelerator, angel group, and venture capital firm.
United States
Edenbrook Capital, LLC is a private investment firm based in Mount Kisco, New York. Founded by Jonathan Brolin in 2011, the firm specializes in a concentrated, value-oriented investment approach, primarily focusing on small to mid-cap public companies.
United States
Edison Partners, founded in 1986 by John Martinson and headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, is a growth equity firm.
Israel
Ehud Barak is the 10th Prime Minister of Israel, the 14th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, former Minister of Defense and former head of military intelligence.
France
Elaia is a Paris-based venture capital firm founded in 2002, specializing in early to growth-stage investments in digital and deep tech startups. It has over €700 million under management.
United States
Eldridge is a diversified investment firm headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut. Founded by Todd Boehly, Eldridge operates as a venture capital company. Beyond venture capital, Eldridge engages in private equity, credit, insurance, and asset management.
United States
Electric Ant is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm founded in 2021, providing investments in crypto technology companies.
United States
Elliot Investment Management, founded by Paul Singer in 1977, is a prominent hedge fund and activist investor based in New York City. The firm manages significant assets and specializes in distressed debt and equity investments, often taking activist stances to influence corporate governance and strategic direction in targeted companies.
Based in New York, Elsted Capital Partners is a family investment office providing early stage venture capital.
India
Founded in 1984, Enam Holdings is a privately managed principal investment group based in Mumbai, India, with a 30-year legacy in Indian capital markets.
United States
Engel Ventures is a Santa Barbara-based venture investment firm founded in 2014, focusing on early-stage companies in technology.
Canada
Espresso Capital is a venture debt firm founded in 2009, headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Singapore
EthAum Venture Partners is an incubator and accelerator for companies that are looking for customers and partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
United States
FJ Labs is a New York-based investment firm founded in 2015.
Israel
Federmann Enterprises is a family-owned private holding company with investments in a range of defense technologies. It is chaired by Michael Federmann, an Israeli drone manufacturer and billionaire in charge of Elbit Systems and the Dan Hotels group.
United States
Fidelity Investments is one of the largest and most diversified financial services firms in the world. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Fidelity offers a wide range of services including investment management, retirement planning, brokerage, and financial advisory services.
Israel
Headquartered in Tel Aviv, FinTLV Ventures is a venture capital firm that provides early stage, late stage, and seed investments in Israeli companies.
India
First Bridge Fund is an investment firm based in Bandra, Maharashtra, India, specializing in early-stage and venture capital funding.
United States
Five Elms Capital is a Kansas City-based growth equity firm founded in 2007, specializing in investments in B2B software companies. It has over $2.4 billion in assets under management.
United States
Founded in 2018, Flexcap Ventures is a venture capital firm based in New York.
United States
Forgepoint Capital, headquartered in San Mateo, California, is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments.
United States
Fort Point Angels is a Boston-based angel investment group founded in 2012, specializing in seed and early-stage investments.
China
Founded in 2000, Fortune Capital is a venture capital firm based in Shenzhen, China.
United States
Founder Collective is a seed-stage venture capital firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 2009.
United States
Established in 2005 by Peter Thiel, Ken Howery, and Luke Nosek, Founders Fund is a prominent venture capital firm based in San Francisco.
China
Foxconn Technology Group, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., is a Taiwanese multinational electronics manufacturing company founded in 1974 by Terry Gou.
Cayman Islands
Foxteq Holdings is a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (Foxconn Technology Group). It's headquartered in George Town, Cayman Islands.
United States
Francisco Partners is a private equity firm headquartered in San Francisco, California, specializing in investments in technology companies. Founded in 1999, Francisco Partners manages approximately $24 billion in assets.
United States
Founded in 2000, FreshTracks Capital is a venture capital firm founded by Cairn Cross and Charles Kireker and based in Vermont, USA, focused on early-stage investments.
United Kingdom
Frontline Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2012.
United Kingdom
Balderton Capital is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2000.
United States
G2 Investment Partners Management LLC operates as an investment management firm. The company provides investment advisory services to pooled investment vehicles.
France
GENEO Capital Entrepreneur is a Paris-based investment firm founded in 2019, focusing on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies.
Israel
Founded in 1962, Gandyr Investments is a private equity firm based in Herzliya, Israel.
United States
Founded in 1906, Gannett is a media and marketing solutions company headquartered in New York.
United States
Gaspar Global Ventures is a micro venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 1996 by Andrew Gaspar.
United States
Genacast Ventures, headquartered in New York City, is a seed-stage venture capital firm.
United States
General Catalyst is a venture capital firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
United States
General Global Capital is an investment firm based in San Francisco, California, USA.
Italy
Generali Group, operating locally as Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., is an Italian insurance company based in Trieste and considered the largest insurance company in Italy.
Israel
Genesis Partners, headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, is a venture capital firm known for its investments in early-stage technology companies. Founded in 1996, Genesis Partners has a long track record of supporting startups in various sectors, including information technology, communications, and new media.
United States
Geode Capital Management LLC is a global asset management firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 2001, Geode manages assets across a range of investment strategies, including index-based and active quantitative investment approaches.
United States
Global Space Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on space industry investments, headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Canada
Founded in 2009, the Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN) is a Canadian angel investment group based in Cambridge, Ontario.
United States
Goldman Sachs is a multinational financial services firm founded in 1869 and headquartered in New York City.
United States
Google Ventures (GV) is the venture capital arm of Alphabet, founded in 2009 and based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
United States
Founded in 2003, Great Oaks Venture Capital is a New York-based venture capital firm specializing in seed and early-stage investments.
United States
Greylock Partners is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage companies in the consumer and enterprise software sectors. Founded in 1965, the firm has over $3.5 billion in committed capital under management.
United States
Group 11 is a VC firm founded by Dovi Frances, an Israeli-American venture capitalist. The firm focuses on Israeli-related software companies.
United States
Gula Tech Adventures (GTA) is a Maryland-based venture capital firm founded in 2017, specializing in seed and early-stage investments in cybersecurity, software, and IT sectors. It is led by Ron and Cyndi Gula.
United Kingdom
Hakluyt Capital is the investment arm of Hakluyt & Company, the strategic advisory firm that provides intelligence support to corporations and government agencies.
Israel
Hanaco Venture Capital is a venture capital fund based in Tel Aviv that invests in Israeli startups.
United States
HarbourVest Partners is a global private equity investment firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1982, HarbourVest manages over $90 billion in assets and specializes in primary fund investing, secondary investing, and direct co-investing in private equity.
United States
Heard Capital LLC is a boutique investment firm based in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in hedge fund management. Founded by Timothy M. Heard, the firm focuses on deploying capital across a range of asset classes, including equities, fixed income, and alternative investments.
United States
Hercules Capital, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is a specialty finance company that provides venture debt and growth capital to technology companies.
United States
Highland Capital Partners, headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, is a venture capital firm specializing in seed, early, and growth-stage investments across sectors like software, AI, and big data.
Israel
Himel Capital is a venture capital firm based in Israel that focuses on early-stage investments in technology companies. Founded by a team of investors and entrepreneurs, Himel Capital specializes in sectors such as software, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. In addition to capital, the firm also provides strategic guidance and access to a broad network of industry contacts.
United States
Homebrew is a seed-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2013 by Hunter Walk and Satya Patel.
Guernsey
Homeward Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in St. Peter Port, Guernsey.
China
HongShan Capital Group (HSG) is a venture capital firm providing investments in early-stage and growth-stage startups, primarily in China. Formerly known as Sequoia China, it rebranded in 2023 after splitting from Sequoia Capital.
Hong Kong
Horizons Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Hong Kong, known for its investments in early-stage and technology-driven companies. It's founded by Li Ka-shing, a Hong Kong billionaire and investor.
United Kingdom
Hoxton Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2013.
United States
Hudson River Capital Partners (HRCP) is a small-cap private equity firm based in New York.
Hong Kong
ICBC Asset Management (Global) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Group. Based in Hong Kong, the firm serves as ICBC's global asset management platform.
Russia
Impulse VC is a venture capital fund founded in 2013 that provides funding and operational support to technology and media companies. It has a global portfolio with companies from the USA, UK, and Russia.
United States
In-Q-Tel (IQT) is a strategic venture capital firm based in Arlington, Virginia, established in 1999. It operates as the nonprofit strategic investor for the U.S. intelligence and national security communities. IQT identifies and partners with technology companies that develop tech in the areas of cybersecurity, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and advanced communications - often entailing surveillance technologies. Beyond financial investment, In-Q-Tel provides its portfolio companies with access to government customers, operational expertise, and a pathway to integrate technologies in the defense and intelligence sectors.
United States
Index Ventures is a global venture capital firm founded in 1996, with offices in San Francisco, London, and Geneva.
India
IndiaNivesh Fund is a private equity firm based in Mumbai, India. The firm focuses on providing growth capital to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India.
United States
Founded in 2020, Inertia Ventures is a venture capital firm based in New York, USA.
United States
Initialized Capital is a venture capital fund founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA.
China
Innolink Fund, also known as Lianjie Capital, is a venture fund headquartered in Beijing, China.
United States
Insight Partners is a global venture capital and private equity firm based in New York, founded in 1995 by Jeff Horing and Jerry Murdock.
United States
Insight Partners is a New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm founded in 1995.
United States
Institutional Venture Partners (aka IVP) is a Silicon Valley venture firm founded in 1980.
United States
Intel Capital, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a corporate venture capital firm.
Russia
The Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) is a venture fund focusing on Russia-based businesses.
United States
Invesco Ltd. is an American independent investment management company that is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
United States
Based in Los Angeles, California, Invest City Capital is a private investment firm specializing in growth-stage companies across multiple sectors.
Canada
Investissement Québec, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Quebec, Canada, is a financial institution offering financing solutions to support SMEs and large companies.
United Kingdom
Invoke Capital is a Cambridge-based venture capital and private equity firm founded in 2012.
France
Iris Capital, headquartered in Paris, France, is a venture capital firm known for its investments in early to growth-stage technology companies. Founded in 1986, Iris Capital has a long track record of supporting tech startups across various sectors, including information technology, telecommunications, and digital media.
Israel
Isaac Zack is an investor known for his involvement in the cybersecurity and surveillance technology sectors. He is associated with being a shareholder and funder of two of the most notorious surveillance companies in Israel whose products are used globally, NSO Group and Candiru.
Israel
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is an aerospace and defense company in Israel. Established in 1953, IAI has grown to become one of Israel's largest defense contractors and a prominent player in the global aerospace industry. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing advanced military and commercial aerospace technologies, including satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It invested millions in spyware companies Inpedio and Cytrox through its Singaporian subsidiary, Custodio PTE.
Israel
Founded in 2014, Israel Growth Partners (IGP) is a private equity and growth capital firm based in Israel.
United States
J2 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 2020 by Jonathan Bronson and Tom Hennessey.
United States
JMP Group LLC is a full-service investment banking and asset management firm founded in 1999 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in providing a range of financial services, including investment banking, equity research, and capital markets advisory.
United States
Founded in 2014, Jaws Ventures is a Miami-based venture capital firm focused on providing growth capital to early and late-stage companies.
United States
Founded by founded by Richard B. Jefferies in 1962, Jefferies Group LLC is a global investment banking and capital markets firm headquartered in New York City. The firm provides a wide range of financial services, including investment banking, equity and debt capital markets, and asset management.
Israel
Founded in 1994 by Israeli investor Shlomo Kalish, Jerusalem Global Ventures (JGV) is a management company that manages venture capital funds and invests in Israeli and Israel-related technology startups.
United States
Jim Hornthal is the Founder and Chairman of Triporati, a personalized travel recommendation platform.
France
Jolt Capital is an independent private equity firm founded in 2011, specializing in growth-stage investments in mid-sized European technology companies. It's headquartered in Paris, France.
China
Established in 2015, Jundu Investment is a venture capital firm headquartered in Lhasa, China.
United States
K50 Ventures is a New York-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2017, specializing in pre-seed and seed investments.
Japan
KDDI is a Japanese telecom operator which has a corporate venture capital arm.
United States
Karman Ventures, formerly known as Moving Capital, is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2018.
United States
Kayne Partners, the growth private equity group of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, specializes in providing growth capital to software companies. Founded in 2002 and based in Los Angeles, the firm focuses on early to late-stage investments and has invested over $740 million in platform investments and add-on acquisitions.
United States
Kickstart is a seed-stage venture capital firm founded in 2008 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
United States
Kirenaga Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm.
United States
Founded in 1972, Kleiner Perkins is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, specializing in early-stage, growth, and incubation investments.
United States
Labrador Ventures, founded in 1989, is one of the oldest seed stage funds in Silicon Valley.
United States
Lauder Partners is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm founded in 2000.
United States
LaunchCapital is a New Haven-based micro venture capital firm founded in 2008, specializing in seed and early-stage investments.
United States
Leawood Venture Capital is a venture capital firm headquartered in Leawood, Kansas.
United States
Lerer Hippeau is a seed-stage venture capital firm based in New York City, founded in 2010 by Ben Lerer, Eric Hippeau, and Ken Lerer.
United States
Founded in 1996, Levensohn Venture Partners (LVP) is an early stage venture capital firm investing in information technology companies.
United States
Based in San Francisco, California, Levitate Capital invests primarily in companies developing advanced aviation and aerial technologies.
United States
Light Street Capital, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is a global investment firm specializing in public and private equities, with a primary focus on the technology and media sectors.
United States
Founded in 2000, Lightspeed Venture Partners is a multi-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California. The firm has regional offices in Israel, India, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
United States
Based in Menlo park, California, Linse Capital is a growth equity firm founded by Michael Linse, who was also a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB).
United Kingdom
Lloyd Dorfman is a prominent British entrepreneur, known for founding Travelex Group, a global foreign exchange company, in 1976.
United States
Lockheed Martin Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corporation, based in Bethesda, Maryland.
United States
Loeb Holding Corporation, founded in 1931 and headquartered in New York City, is a privately held investment banking and private equity firm.
Israel
Lool Ventures is a Tel Aviv-based venture capital fund founded in 2011, specializing in seed and pre-seed investments.
Switzerland
Founded in 2017, Lurra Capital is a family office based in Zurich, Switzerland.
United States
Lux Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2000, with offices in New York and Silicon Valley. The firm focuses on investing in technology startups at the seed, early, and growth stages. Lux Capital manages over $5 billion in assets.
United States
M12, formerly known as Microsoft Ventures, is Microsoft's venture capital fund established in March 2016. It was initially named Microsoft Ventures but rebranded to M12 in April 2018 to avoid confusion with Microsoft's first-party accelerator program, which was renamed Microsoft ScaleUp. The rebranding emphasized the fund's focus on investing in startups rather than providing accelerator services. The name M12 signifies Microsoft's involvement, with "M" standing for Microsoft and "12" representing the number of letters in the word "entrepreneur."
United Arab Emirates
MENA Venture Investments (MVI) is an angel fund based in Dubai, UAE. It was founded in 2009 by Fadi Ghandour and Arif Naqvi.
United States
MSD Capital is the private investment firm founded by Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies.
Australia
Macquarie Group is a global financial services provider headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and founded in 1969.
Israel
Magma Venture Partners was founded in 1999 by Yahal Zilka, Modi Rosen, and Haim Sadger. The firm is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, and specializes in early-stage investments in technology companies. Magma Venture Partners focuses on sectors such as software, telecommunications, and internet technologies.
Australia
Main Sequence Ventures is an early stage (seed to Series B) investment fund. The firm is backed by the Australian National Science Agency, CSIRO, the Australian Federal Government, and private investors. It has over $1b under management.
United States
Marc Andreessen is a venture capitalist and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm founded in 2009. The firm, commonly known as "a16z," manages over $16.5 billion in assets and invests across various stages, from seed to late-stage, in technology companies.
United States
Marlinspike Capital, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is a venture capital and advisory firm specializing in investments in national defense technology.
Canada
Mars Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF) is one of Canada’s most active early-stage venture capital firms, founded in 2008 and based in Toronto, Ontario.
Israel
Matias Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Herzliya, Israel, founded in 2020 by Yossi Matias and Michael Matias.
United States
Matrix is a venture capital firm focused on seed and early-stage investments. It’s based in San Francisco, California, USA.
United States
Founded in 2015 as the venture capital arm of Maverick Capital, Maverick Ventures is a San Francisco-based firm that primarily invests in early-stage companies.
United States
Maywic Select Investments was founded by Fred Mayerson and Chad Wick. Together, they have created a firm focused on investing in tech companies with high growth potential.
Israel
Meitav Dash Investments Ltd is a major investment firm based in Israel, providing a range of financial services. The company offers asset management, mutual funds, provident funds, pension funds, and investment advisory services to individuals and institutions.
Vietnam
The Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) is a development partnership between the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia, established in 2015. The initiative provides funding and support to early-stage companies, particularly in Southeast Asia, through grants and strategic partnerships.
United States
Meritech Capital provides late-stage venture capital to technology companies. It’s based in Palo Alto, California, USA.
United States
MetTel, founded in 1996 and headquartered in New York City, is a telecommunications company that integrates telecom and technology to deliver innovative solutions for businesses.
United States
Mitchell Cohen is the Managing Director at Trilogy Search Partners, based in the Bay Area. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Hellman & Friedman from 1989 to 2008.
United States
Mithril is a global investment firm founded by Ajay Royan and Peter Thiel.
United States
MolecularCloud is an open-access platform based in Piscataway, New Jersey. It enables scientists to access, share, and collaborate on life sciences.
United Kingdom
Molten Ventures, formerly known as Draper Esprit, is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2006.
United States
Monarch Alternative Capital, headquartered in New York City, is a hedge fund and venture capital firm.
United States
Moore Capital is a global investment management firm founded by Louis Moore Bacon in 1989. The firm primarily focuses on hedge fund strategies, investing in a range of asset classes including equities, fixed income, and commodities.
United Kingdom
Mosaic Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2014, specializing in seed and early-stage investments.
United States
Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, established in 1999, is the global strategic investment arm of Motorola Solutions. Based in Chicago, Illinois, it focuses on early-stage investments in sectors such as information technology, Internet of Things (IoT), big data, data analytics, cybersecurity, and mobile intelligence applications.
India
Mount Judi Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Bengaluru, India, founded in 2017.
France
Move Capital is a Paris-based private equity and venture capital firm founded in 2022.
United Arab Emirates
Mubadala ICT (Information and Communication Technology) is a strategic business unit of Mubadala Investment Company, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Mubadala Investment Company is a sovereign wealth fund of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, managing a diversified global portfolio valued at over $200 billion.
Japan
NTT Finance is a Tokyo-based international leasing and finance company founded in 1985. It provides leasing, loans, venture capital, and related financing solutions.
Israel
Nachum Falek is the former CFO of AudioCodes and Allot Communications, both of which develop interception technologies.
India
Nadathur Holdings is a private investment firm founded in 2000 by Srinivasa Raghavan Nadathur, one of the seven founders of Infosys Technologies, a global consulting and IT services company based in India. It is headquartered in Bangalore.
United States
Naval Ravikant is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and co-founder of AngelList, a platform that connects startups with investors.
United States
NeoCarta Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage technology companies. Founded in 2011, the firm is based in San Mateo, California and specializes in sectors such as software, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.
United States
Founded in 1939, Neuberger Berman Group LLC is a global asset management firm headquartered in New York City, managing over $400 billion in assets across a range of investment strategies.
Italy
Founded in 2020, Neva SGR is a venture capital firm based in Turin, Italy.
United States
New York Angels is a professional angel investment organization based in New York City, founded in 2004. The group specializes in seed and early-stage investments. With over 110 active members, New York Angels provides funding, mentorship, and strategic support to startups, investing between $100,000 and $1,000,000 per deal.
United States
Based in Palo Alto, California, Next47 is a corporate venture capital firm.
United States
Founded in 1986, North Atlantic Capital is a venture capital firm based in Portland, Maine, specializing in providing growth capital to innovative technology companies across the United States.
United States
Norwest Venture Partners is a global venture and growth equity investment firm with over $15.5 billion in capital. It’s headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. It merged with Wells Fargo in 1998, and Wells Fargo remains its main limited partner.
Canada
Novacap, founded in 1981 and headquartered in Longueuil, Quebec, is a Canadian private equity firm with over $2.8 billion in assets under management.
United States
Novak Biddle Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Bethesda, Maryland, founded in 1997.
United Kingdom
Founded in 2016 and based in London, UK, Novalpina Capital is a private equity firm specializing in buyout investments.
United States
ONSET Ventures is a Menlo Park-based venture capital firm founded in 1984.
United States
Omega Venture Partners (OVP) is a Menlo Park-based venture capital firm founded in 2016.
United States
Origin Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
United States
Other People's Capital (OPC) is a micro venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2021.
Israel
OurCrowd is a global venture capital and crowdfunding platform founded in 2013 by Jonathan Medved. Based in Jerusalem, the company allows accredited investors to participate in startup funding alongside venture capital professionals. OurCrowd's model includes pre-vetted investment opportunities. It became the first Israeli VC registered by the Abu Dhabi Global Market to operate in the country. The UAE relies heavily on surveillance tech produced by Israeli startups and defense companies.
United States
Outcome Capital is an early stage venture capital firm headquartered in Boston, MA, USA.
United States
Paladin Capital Group is a leading venture capital and private equity firm based in Washington, D.C., specializing in investments in innovative companies across cybersecurity, enterprise software, and other technology-driven sectors. Founded in 2001, Paladin Capital manages funds that target early-stage to growth-stage companies, focusing on technologies that have dual-use applications in both commercial and governmental markets.
United States
Palumni VC, headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies founded and led by Palantir alumni.
Singapore
Pavilion Capital, established in 2011, is a Singapore-based private equity firm. It focuses on investments in information technology and business services sectors across North Asia. Pavilion Capital operates as a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, a global investment company headquartered in Singapore. The firm provides capital and strategic support to fast-growing companies, assisting with strategic initiatives, mergers, and acquisitions.
United States
Peakequity is an investment firm specializing in private equity and venture capital. It's headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA.
United States
Peloton Equity, headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a private equity firm.
Germany
Founded in 2008, Perusa focuses on acquiring majority stakes in small to medium-sized companies across various industries. Its mostly known for its involvement in the funding and acquistion of Trovicor, which develops surveillance and interception products that target human rights defenders.
United States
Peter Thiel is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and co-founder of PayPal. He serves as the Managing Partner at Founders Fund, a venture capital firm based in San Francisco.
Germany
Pinova Capital is a private equity firm based in Munich, Germany, specializing in investments in medium-sized companies across various industries.
United States
Based in Palo Alto, California, Playground Global is an early stage venture capital firm.
United States
Point72 Ventures is a global venture capital firm founded in 2016 and headquartered in New York. It operates as the independent investment arm of Point72, focusing on seed to late-stage investments in fintech, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and IT sectors.
United States
ProtoStar Partners, also known as JASA, is a private investment firm and microventure capital firm in New York.
United States
Prototype Capital, established in 2015 and based in Pasadena, California, is a distributed venture capital fund.
United States
Prototype Capital, founded in 2015 by Nandeet Mehta and Rajat Bhageria, is a distributed venture capital fund based in Pasadena, California.
Israel
The Psagot Investment House is an Israeli investment firm and the country's largest pension fund manager.
Qatar
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. Established in 2005, it is one of the largest and most prominent sovereign wealth funds in the world.
China
Qiming Venture Partners, founded in 2006, is a leading venture capital firm headquartered in Shanghai, China, with additional offices in Beijing, Suzhou, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
United States
Qualcomm Ventures is the venture capital arm of Qualcomm Incorporated, a global leader in wireless technology and telecommunications. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Qualcomm Ventures focuses on investing in early-stage companies, with a focus on the mobile industry, Internet of Things (IoT), 5G connectivity, artificial intelligence, and automative technology.
France
Qualium Investissement is a private equity firm based in Paris, France, specializing in majority control buyouts of small and medium-sized companies primarily in France and Europe. Founded in 1998, the firm manages €1.2 billion in funds and invests between €20 million and €100 million in companies.
United States
Raptor Ventures was a Boston-based micro venture capital firm founded in 2009, providing early- and late-stage investments as well as seed funding. The firm is now closed.
United States
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, Recorded Future is a cybersecurity company specializing in threat intelligence.
United States
Recursive Ventures is a San Francisco-based Micro VC fund founded in 2015, specializing in pre-seed and seed investments in U.S. and Israeli tech startups.
Luxembourg
Redline Capital Management, headquartered in Luxembourg, is a venture capital firm focused on growth-stage investments in software companies.
United States
Based in East Setauket, New York, Renaissance Technologies LLC is a quantitative investment management company founded in 1982 by mathematician and former Cold War codebreaker James Simons.
United States
Responder Ventures is a West Palm Beach, Florida-based venture capital firm founded in 2015.
United States
Richard S. Braddock is an investor and executive currently serving as the Executive Chairman of the Board at Pypestream, a customer engagement platform.
United States
Riot Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2017 by Stephen Marcus and Will Coffield.
United States
Founded in 2012 and powered by General Catalyst, Rough Draft Ventures is a student-led venture capital initiative that connects networks of student entrepreneurs across the United States.
United States
SAIC Capital is a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage technology companies. Founded by the team behind Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), the firm specializes in sectors such as defense, cybersecurity, and advanced technology solutions. SAIC Capital aims to leverage its extensive industry experience and networks to support startups that align with its strategic interests. The firm is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, USA.
United Kingdom
SFC Capital, also known as Startup Funding Club, is a UK-based investor founded in 2012.
China
Shanghai SIIC Fund Management is a subsidiary of Shanghai Industrial Investment (Holdings) Co., Ltd. (SIIC), an investment holding group based in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
India
Founded in 1985, Security & Intelligence Services (India) Ltd. (SIS) is a provider of private security and facility management services, operating in India and Australia.
South Korea
SK Group, founded in 1953 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is a conglomerate operating in industries such as biopharmaceuticals, energy, life sciences, semiconductors, and telecommunications.
United States
SYN Ventures is a West Palm Beach-based venture capital firm founded in 2021, specializing in early-stage investments in cybersecurity, software, and IT companies.
United States
Sageview Capital is a private equity and venture capital firm founded in 2006, with offices in Palo Alto, California, and Greenwich, Connecticut.
United States
Sahin Boydas is a technology entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder of RemoteTeam (acquired by Gusto).
United States
Salesforce Ventures is the investment arm of Salesforce, providing startup funding worldwide.
Australia
Salus Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Sydney, Australia.
India
Samarthya Investment Advisors, founded in 2021, is an investment firm headquartered in Mumbai, India.
United States
Sandbox Industries is a venture capital and innovation firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm specializes in early-stage investments and focuses on sectors such as technology and consumer products.
United States
Sands Capital Ventures is a venture capital and private equity firm based in Arlington, Virginia, founded in 1992.
United States
Sapphire Ventures is a global venture capital firm founded in 2011, with over $11 billion in assets under management. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the firm invests in late-stage companies within the software, SaaS, and IT industries.
United States
Saratoga Partners is a private equity firm based in New York.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Headquartered in Riyadh, PIF is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds globally, managing assets across various sectors and industries.
Russia
Sberbank is one of Russia's largest banks and financial institutions.
Israel
Secret Chord Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Tel Aviv, Israel.
United States
Section 32 is a venture capital firm based in San Diego, California, founded in 2017 by Bill Maris, the former CEO of Google Ventures.
United States
Senvest Management, LLC (“Senvest”) is a registered investment advisor founded by Richard Mashaal in 1997. Based in New York, Senvest manages approximately $3 billion in assets.
United States
Sequoia Capital is a venture capital firm known for its significant role in funding various technology companies. Founded in 1972 by Don Valentine, Sequoia is based in Menlo Park, California, and has a global presence with offices in China, India, Southeast Asia with a new office being established in Israel as of 2024.
Israel
Shalev Hulio is the co-founder and former CEO of the spyware company NSO Group as well as the co-founder and current CEO of Dream Security.
United States
SignalRank Corporation is a Palo Alto-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. The firm developed the SignalRank Index, a heuristic and machine learning-driven capital allocation engine that identifies Series B investment opportunities.
United Kingdom
Silchester International Investors is a London-based asset management firm specializing in international equity investment. Founded in 1994, the firm focuses on long-term investing in publicly traded companies.
United States
Founded in 1999, Silver Lake is a private equity investment firm based in Menlo Park, CA, USA.
United States
Silversmith Capital Partners is a Boston-based private equity and venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Todd MacLean, Jim Quagliaroli and Jeff Crisan.
United States
Sinai Capital Partners (SCP) is a venture capital firm based in New York, USA.
China
Sinovation Ventures, founded in September 2009 by Lee Kai-Fu and Hua Wang, is a full-service venture capital firm focused on the Chinese technology market. Also known as 创新工场 (Chuangxin Gongchang), the firm invests across early-stage, late-stage, and seed funding rounds.
Russia
Founded in 2016, Sistema is a venture capital firm focused on early stage investments in the technology sector. It's the VC investment arm of the Russian financial corporation JFSC Sistema. It operates in Russia, the UK and Israel.
United States
Snowpoint Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Palm Beach, Florida, founded in 2021.
United States
Socium Ventures is an investment firm based in Georgia, USA.
Canada
Sofinov Société Financière d'Innovation is an investment firm based in Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Japan
Established in 2010 through the merger of several insurance companies, Sompo Holdings Inc. is a Japanese insurance and financial services conglomerate headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
United States
Sorenson Capital, headquartered in Lehi, Utah, operates as a private equity and venture capital investment firm.
United States
Sourcefire was a cybersecurity company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. The company was acquired by Cisco in 2013 for $2.7 billion and is now closed.
Australia
The South Australian Venture Capital Fund (SAVCF) invests in early-stage South Australian startups.
United States
Founded in 2005, Spark Capital is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, USA.
United States
Spinner Asset Management is an investment firm specializing in asset management and venture capital.
United States
Spire Capital is a private equity firm based in New York, USA.
United States
Spring Lake Equity Partners is a Boston-based private equity firm specializing in equity investments in later-stage technology private companies. It was established in 2013 as a spin-off from Tudor Investment Corp.
Israel
StageOne Ventures is a venture capital fund servicing Israeli startups and companies.
United States
StartUp PHL, founded in 2012, is a micro-venture capital firm based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a collaborative initiative between the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.
United States
The Stanford-StartX Fund, also known as StartX, was founded in 2011 by Cameron Teitelman and Dan Ha. It's designed to invest in technology companies founded by Stanford-affiliated entrepreneurs.
United States
State Street was founded in 1792, making it one of the oldest financial institutions in the United States. State Street operates globally, with offices in major financial centers around the world. Its headquarters are located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Germany
Steadfast Capital, also known as Borromin Capital Management, is a private equity firm based in Frankfurt, Germany, founded in 2001.
United States
StepStone Group is a global private equity firm headquartered in New York, founded in 2007 by Monte Brem and Thomas Keck, both of whom previously worked for Pacific Corporate Group.
United States
Sternhill Associates is a venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies, headquartered in New York, USA.
United States
Sternhill Associates is a venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies, headquartered in New York, USA.
Canada
Formerly known as BCE Capital, Summerhill Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 1993 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
United States
Summit Partners is a Boston-based investment firm founded in 1984, specializing in growth equity, fixed income, and public equity opportunities.
China
Sunshine Insurance Group, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Beijing, China, is a leading provider of insurance products and services.
United States
Surround Ventures, also known as Sababa Ventures, is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2019. The firm focuses on investing in Israeli-driven technology startups.
India
Surya Telecom, founded in 1998, is a telecommunications company based in Panchla, West Bengal, India. The company is a provider of wireless and broadband radio solutions, as well as video surveillance systems.
United States
Sustainable Technology Ventures (STV) is a firm investing in "sustainable" technology companies, based in San Francisco, California.
United States
Founded in 2001, Sverica Capital is a Boston-headquartered firm with offices in San Francisco and Austin.
United States
Founded in 2016, Sweetwater Capital Partners is a boutique private equity firm based in Encinitas, California, specializing in secondary market investments.
United States
Synapse Partners is a New York-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in startups developing enterprise software and AI applications.
Israel
TAU Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund affiliated with Tel Aviv University, founded in 2018.
United States
TCP Venture Capital, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a venture capital firm specializing in seed and early-stage investments.
United States
TEN Holdings is a Super Angel investment fund that actively invests in early-stage companies across various industries.
Israel
TLV Partners is a venture capital firm headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Israel
TPY Capital is a Tel Aviv-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2011.
Israel
Tamir Fishman was founded by Eldad Tamir and Danny Fishman. Eldad Tamir is known for his expertise in financial markets and venture capital, while Danny Fishman has a strong background in investment banking and corporate finance. Together, they established Tamir Fishman to focus on providing comprehensive investment banking and asset management services.
Singapore
Temasek Holdings is a global investment firm based in Singapore, managing a portfolio across industries such as telecommunications, technology, and financial services.
United States
Founded in 2014, Ten Eleven Ventures is a cybersecurity focused investment firm headquartered in California, USA.
United States
TenOneTen Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in enterprise software and data companies, primarily making seed-stage investments in B2B technology startups. Their name is derived from their original location at 1010 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Japan
Terilogy is a Tokyo-based technology company founded in 1989, focusing on network infrastructure.
United Arab Emirates
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), founded in 1976, is a sovereign wealth fund based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
United States
The Blue Venture Fund, headquartered in Chicago, is a venture capital fund.
United States
The Carlyle Group is a global private equity firm founded in 1987 and headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Israel
The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) used to be known as Israel's Chief Scientist Fund, established in 1979, is a government initiative aimed at supporting research and development (R&D) in the private sector. The fund operates under the wing of Israel's Ministry of Economy and Industry, and provides financial assistance to companies engaged in technology development across various sectors, with a focus on information technology. It was renamed the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) in 2016.
United States
The Pritzker Organization is a private investment firm that funds, acquires, and builds companies. It's currently run by Thomas Pritzker, an American billionaire heir and businessman.
United States
The Riverside Company, also known as Riverside, is a global private equity firm founded in 1988 and headquartered in New York City.
Russia
The Russia-China Investment Fund (RCIF), founded in 2012, is a private equity fund established through a partnership between the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and China Investment Corporation (CIC).
United States
Founded in 2007, The Westly Group is a venture capital fund headquartered in Menlo Park, CA, USA.
United States
Founded in 2001, Tiger Global is an investment firm based in New York that manages approximately $50 billion in public and private equity strategies.
France
Tikehau Capital is a global asset management and investment firm founded in 2004 and headquartered in Paris, France.
China
Tongcheng Zichan, also known as Shanghai Tongsheng Asset Management Co., Ltd., is a Shanghai-based investment firm founded in 2013.
United Kingdom
Top Technology Ventures was a UK-based venture capital firm founded in 1986, specializing in providing equity funding for early-stage technology companies. It is now closed.
United States
Founded in 2006 by Jim Labe and Sajal Srivastava, TriplePoint Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, providing seed to late-stage investments.
United States
Tudor Investments, founded in 1980 by Paul Tudor Jones II, is a Greenwich, Connecticut-based venture capital firm managing $21 billion in assets.
Saudi Arabia
Turki bin Faisal Al Saud is a Saudi prince, investor, and former government official. He served as the head of Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Presidency from 1979 to 2001, playing a key role in the country's intelligence operations.
United States
The Twilio Fund was a $50 million investment fund that supported companies creating applications on Twilio's platform. It was based in San Francisco and is no longer active.
United States
Tycoons Venture Capital, based in Florida, is a private investment firm funding early-stage startups.
United States
U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, with a history dating back to 1981. USVP manages multiple funds with a focus on early-stage investments in technology-driven companies across various sectors.
United States
Based in Santa Monica, California, UP Partners is an early stage venture capital fund.
United States
The US Innovative Technology Fund is a venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2022.
Israel
Uri Emmanuel Ansbacher is a former NSO business partner serving the Latin America market. He worked closely with NSO co-founder Shalev Hulio, primarily as a distributor of Israeli surveillance tools in Mexico.
United States
Headquartered in Chicago, Valor Equity Partners is an operational growth investment firm.
United States
Founded in 2000, ValueAct Capital is a private equity investment firm based in San Francisco, CA, USA.
United States
Vanguard Group is one of the world's largest investment management companies, known for its focus on index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Founded in 1975 by John C. Bogle, Vanguard is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and manages trillions of dollars in assets globally.
United States
Vast Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2003, focusing on early-stage investments.
Singapore
Vertex Ventures is a global venture capital firm headquartered in Singapore, investing in early-stage technology startups.
Colombia
Vertical Partners, headquartered in Medellín, Colombia, is a venture capital firm largely focused on seed-stage investments.
United States
Victory Park Capital, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a private equity firm.
Israel
Viola Growth is a technology growth capital fund based in Tel Aviv, Israel.
United Kingdom
Vitruvian Partners is a London-based private equity firm founded in 2006, specializing in middle-market buyouts, growth buyouts, and growth capital investments.
United Kingdom
Volpi Capital is a private equity firm based in London, United Kingdom, founded in 2016.
United States
W Capital Partners is a New York-based private equity firm founded in 2001, specializing in providing exit flexibility for private equity shareholders and growth capital for private companies.
United States
Wolfswood Partners, headquartered in New York, is a hedge fund specializing in investments in late-stage technology and healthcare companies.
United States
Woodside Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 1983 and based in Silicon Valley. It has a history of investments and connections to prestigious institutions like Stanford University and MIT.
United States
XYZ Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California.
Israel
Xenia Venture Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Tel Aviv, Israel.
United States
Y Combinator is a startup accelerator and venture capital fund focused on early-stage companies. It was launched in 2005.
United States
Zelkova Ventures is a Miami-based venture capital firm founded in 2007, focused on investing in early-stage companies, often providing their first institutional capital.
China
Zhongke Haichuang, also known as Weifang Zhongke Haichuang Equity Investment Partnership, is a private equity firm founded in 2018 and headquartered in Weifang, Shandong, China.
Israel
i3 Equity Partners is a venture capital firm headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, founded in 2016 by managing partners Eran Wagner and Noga Kap.