The Rabat, Morocco-based Social Media Exchange (SMEX), a nonprofit organization focused on promoting human rights in digital spaces, has issued a warning regarding a potential surveillance threat in the MENA region. According to SMEX, Samsung phones in the area may contain secretly embedded Israeli-linked software that poses a significant risk to users’ privacy.
According to moroccoworldnews.com, SMEX has identified that Samsung’s A and M series devices may come preloaded with or automatically install an app called “Aura” through system updates, all without the user’s consent. This app reportedly collects a broad range of personal and device-specific data, including IP addresses, device fingerprints, hardware details, and network information, raising serious concerns about user data protection and potential misuse.
SMEX cautions that the collected data points can be used to easily identify users, particularly when location tracking is enabled on apps installed via Aura, posing a significant security risk. This concern is heightened in a region where Israel has a history of utilizing technology for surveillance and violence.
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The supposed “privacy settings” for the Aura app claim that users can disable data collection by turning off “AppCloud” in the app list. However, SMEX warns that actual deletion is nearly impossible without advanced technical knowledge, as it requires submitting a non-existent form, effectively trapping users in a cycle of data collection.
In 2022, Samsung MENA collaborated with Israeli tech firm IronSource, incorporating its Aura software into Galaxy A and M series phones sold in the region. This partnership was publicly promoted as a means to “enhance user experience” through AI-driven app and content recommendations, but has since raised concerns about data privacy and surveillance.
The extent and secrecy of the data collection have sparked increasing alarm. This concern turned tragically real in September 2024, when Israel conducted a terrorist attack in Lebanon using booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies allegedly linked to Hezbollah members.
The attack, which remotely detonated the devices in public spaces, resulted in 42 deaths, including children and health workers, and injured over 3,500 people. Many victims suffered long-term physical injuries and psychological trauma, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
The attack was disturbingly praised by pro-Israel politicians and Western media outlets, disregarding the ominous implications for anyone with a cellphone. This reaction overlooks the terrifying reality that if digital proximity to a targeted individual is enough to put you at risk of harm, then no one is safe from the growing scope of Israel’s tech-driven warfare.
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