Here’s the translation to American English:
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In a significant step toward transparency in government surveillance, contractor Pen-Link has agreed to disclose the prices and descriptions of its surveillance products sold to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office in California. This agreement ends a public records lawsuit that had been ongoing for months, driven by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the local sheriff. The resolution of the case underscores that the surveillance tools used by authorities should not be considered secret under the law.
Last year, the EFF submitted a request to the sheriff’s office for information about its relationship with Pen-Link and Cobwebs Technology, a subsidiary of the former. The company took the case to court, claiming that the names of its products and their prices were trade secrets, but the EFF intervened to obtain the requested records.
The released documents indicate that in 2023, the sheriff’s office spent $180,000 on a two-year subscription to Cobwebs’ “Tangles” platform. This product allows the sheriff to conduct online activity monitoring, performing multiple searches each month and accessing information from the “Dark Web,” among other sources. Although additional features, such as AI-based image processing, were offered, the sheriff opted not to purchase them.
The intelligence platform has been described as capable of analyzing information from the open web, deep web, and dark web, as well as location-based data. Previous reports have indicated that Pen-Link technology could be used to target activists and independent journalists, highlighting the need for oversight over its use.
Furthermore, records also show that in 2022, the sheriff’s office acquired additional products from Pen-Link to assist law enforcement in executing and analyzing data from phone interceptions, a practice that requires judicial approval.
The importance of transparency in the use of surveillance tools is crucial, as the public has a right to know the methods employed by their governments, regardless of whether they are developed or purchased. This information is fundamental to facilitating informed debates about governmental operations in communities.
Pen-Link defended its position by arguing that the prices were trade secrets due to the governments’ reliance on the confidentiality of their analytical capabilities. However, this perception has proven problematic, as the information was already accessible on various platforms and official documents online.
The case highlights the risks and political implications faced by companies attempting to conceal information about their sales to security agencies. Legal actions that obstruct access to public records can limit the right to information, especially considering that not all citizens have the resources to litigate requests.
This agreement is ultimately a victory for transparency and reaffirms the EFF’s commitment to continuing its work in disclosing surveillance-related information.
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Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
