Luxembourg secret service still uses spyware

(CS/CBu) Bought in 2012, the Luxembourg secret service SREL continues to use surveillance software purchased from Italian company Hacking Team, but not “permanently” and only in individual cases, according to the Prime Minister's office.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel on Tuesday confirmed that Luxembourg was a customer of Hacking Team, after a list of clients was leaked online in a hacking attack on the company.

However, while the documents made available online by hackers showed the Luxembourg tax authority as a customer, Bettel said that it was the secret service that had made the purchase under the previous government.

Documents obtained by the “Luxemburger Wort” list a Remote Control System with the name Falcon, bought for 190,000 euros, with annual maintenance bills of 38,000 euros. The latest bill was for the period from June 1, 2014 until the end of May this year. 

Contacted by the “Luxemburger Wort”, the Prime Minister's office said that the tool was still being used by the SREL, but not “permanently” and only in selected and individual cases.

The Luxembourg secret service is only allowed to carry out surveillance of a person based on solid suspicion and risk assessment. Surveillance requests need to be signed by the Prime Minister with the permission of a judicial body.

Following the leak of Hacking Team information, however, the company has warned its customers to continue using its surveillance software. The Luxembourg secret service has contacted Hacking Team after the company failed to inform the government about the hacker attack and the subsequent data leaks.

The government did not comment on the possibility to claim damages.

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