Nokia Disputes Report of Work on Russian Surveillance System as 'Misleading' (itwire.com) 14
While Nokia stopped sales in Russia and denounced the invasion of Ukraine, the New York Times reported Monday that Nokia had previously "worked with state-linked Russian companies to plan, streamline and troubleshoot" the connection between a Russian telecom and the government's powerful SORM digital surveillance tool. But Nokia says the claims are "misleading," reports ITWire.
Slashdot reader juul_advocate shares ITWire's report, which labels the Times' story "a rehashing of a story published by the American tech website TechCrunch back in 2019."
A Nokia spokesperson said, in a detailed rebuttal, that the Times had confirmed that the documents used as source material for the story were the same as those used by TechCrunch....
The Russian lawful intercept system is known as System for Operative Investigative Activities, or SORM. Nokia said the Times had suggested that its networks play an active part in enabling equipment used for SORM. "This is incorrect. Like any other network infrastructure supplier, Nokia is required to ensure that the networking products we sell have passive capability to interface with lawful intercept equipment of law enforcement agencies," the company said.
"This is governed by internationally recognised standards, as well as local regulations. All Nokia deals go through a strict human rights due diligence process that has been externally assessed and vetted by the Global Network Initiative. We are the first and only telecommunications equipment vendor to have this external assessment in place...."
[I]t is a third party which converts the standards-based interface in Nokia's products to fit with the legal intercept requirements — a fact which is also reflected in the 2019 documents." The Finnish company, one of four that is able to supply end-to-end 5G networks, added: "As Nokia has made clear to The New York Times, Nokia does not manufacture, install or service SORM equipment or systems. Any suggestions that we do, are incorrect.
"Lawful intercept is a standard capability that exists in every network in almost every nation. It provides properly authorised law enforcement agencies with the ability to track and view certain data and communications passing through an operator's network for purposes of combatting crime."
In short, Nokia's rebuttal argues, "The information that was already published by TechCrunch in 2019 does not show anything more than Nokia's product interfaces meeting the standards-based, legal requirements related to lawful intercept."
Slashdot reader juul_advocate shares ITWire's report, which labels the Times' story "a rehashing of a story published by the American tech website TechCrunch back in 2019."
A Nokia spokesperson said, in a detailed rebuttal, that the Times had confirmed that the documents used as source material for the story were the same as those used by TechCrunch....
The Russian lawful intercept system is known as System for Operative Investigative Activities, or SORM. Nokia said the Times had suggested that its networks play an active part in enabling equipment used for SORM. "This is incorrect. Like any other network infrastructure supplier, Nokia is required to ensure that the networking products we sell have passive capability to interface with lawful intercept equipment of law enforcement agencies," the company said.
"This is governed by internationally recognised standards, as well as local regulations. All Nokia deals go through a strict human rights due diligence process that has been externally assessed and vetted by the Global Network Initiative. We are the first and only telecommunications equipment vendor to have this external assessment in place...."
[I]t is a third party which converts the standards-based interface in Nokia's products to fit with the legal intercept requirements — a fact which is also reflected in the 2019 documents." The Finnish company, one of four that is able to supply end-to-end 5G networks, added: "As Nokia has made clear to The New York Times, Nokia does not manufacture, install or service SORM equipment or systems. Any suggestions that we do, are incorrect.
"Lawful intercept is a standard capability that exists in every network in almost every nation. It provides properly authorised law enforcement agencies with the ability to track and view certain data and communications passing through an operator's network for purposes of combatting crime."
In short, Nokia's rebuttal argues, "The information that was already published by TechCrunch in 2019 does not show anything more than Nokia's product interfaces meeting the standards-based, legal requirements related to lawful intercept."
'Misleading'? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:1)
Like in most countries. Here in the west most people consider it OK or at least tolerable. But if China or Russia do it, it is evil to provide the tech ;-)
Now I would agree there is a difference in how the technology is used. But requiring equipment makers or the telecoms to provide the tech? Different country, same shit.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
You can't sell phone network equipment anywhere in the world without the so-called "lawful intercept" functionality. Are you suggesting that all companies should conscientiously object to selling phone network equipment until governments no longer demand this capability?
Re: (Score:2)
That would certainly solve the problem...
More realistically, we can at least call upon them to do so in situations where it's obvious the technology is clearly going to be abused. There's a substantial moral difference between selling the exact same gun to a hunter or a known violent felon.
And more fundamentally, we may want to take it as a pointed reminder of the easily-abused surveillance infrastructure we've allowed to be put in place here, and perhaps question why there is not at least some independent
'Misleading'! (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes misleading is the correct word. Up for debate is not whether their system connects or not, it's whether the article was framed in a way that made Nokia look like a villain, rather than a company that provides standard infrastructure that follows global standards which every other company also provides, and standards which are required in every other nation.
Re: (Score:1)
All telecom equipment relies heavily on global standardization. These standards set specific requirements for any and all such products. Nokia's, as well as anyone else's telecom network components need to be compliant with these standards. If they aren't they would never be able to sell them to any telecom company.
One such standardized requirement is to include interfaces for lawful intercept (i.e. interfaces for enabling police wiretap
Nokia is right. (Score:2)
Russia requires SORM equipment [wikipedia.org] to be installed for communication systems and that's that. The US has similar requirements but Russia seems to be a bit different in that they employ deep packet inspection on a national scale.
Re: (Score:2)
Why single out Nokia? (Score:3)
"[Lawful intercept] provides properly authorised law enforcement agencies with the ability to track and view certain data and communications passing through an operator's network."
Is there any government on Earth that doesn't "properly authorise" its cops and intelligence agencies to do basically whatever they like, then excuse them when their conduct is so egregious it crosses even that nearly-nonexistent line?
Moscow Code in North American Telcos and Elsewhere (Score:2)
I know of at least one company that has much of its code developed in Moscow that has been doing a lot of work for North American Telecommunications Companies, especially around provisioning systems. That is, the systems that talk to the physical layers to set up connections. They have also implemented many other software systems in the telcos for billing, ordering, etc. But I'd be concerned what and where else their software is used (I'm not sure if it is used at the switch level). It is one of those soft
Jolla (Sailfish Holding) (Score:2)
I have been sadly surprised what was behind Russian "own" mobile OS:
https://tadviser.com/index.php... [tadviser.com]