UK firm denies supplying cyber-spy tech to Egypt

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The UK firm allegedly involved in supplying cyber spying equipment to access to Egyptian activists’ web accounts has rejected the claims, according to a report.

In April this year, a Washington Times report claimed to have seen documents showing British firm Gamma International offered access to files on computers targeted by the previous regime headed by Hosni Mubarak.

The purported proposal from Gamma, offering products from its FinFisher portfolio, was posted online by Egyptian activist and physician Mostafa Hussein.

He claimed the documents, which were allegedly seized during a raid on the headquarters of the country’s state security service, provided “important evidence of the intent of the state security and investigation division not to respect our privacy.”

Access to Gmail, Skype, Hotmail and Yahoo accounts were reportedly on offer from Gamma.

At the time, Peter Lloyd, an attorney for Gamma International, said the company had not sold FinFisher software to the former Egyptian Government. Now the company has rejected the claims again.

The BBC said it had also seen evidence suggesting technology was used to monitor dissidents. However, Gamma said it had not supplied the now-ousted Government a program used to infect computers and watch over users’ web interactions, including email.

Foreign secretary William Hague said he would be looking at the evidence. He said he would be in favour of a ban on exporting services used for repression.

Radio 4's File on 4 programme is due to cover the story in more detail at 8pm this evening.

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