Image Credentials: Image Title: Investigation Finds Israeli Telecom Networks Used for Global Phone Tracking Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: May 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
A new investigation has revealed that telecommunications infrastructure linked to Israel has been used to track mobile phone users across more than ten countries, raising significant concerns about global surveillance practices and data security.
The findings, produced by the Canadian-based research group Citizen Lab and reported by Haaretz, suggest that systems ranging from legacy networks built in the 1970s to modern 5G platforms were exploited as tracking tools through sophisticated spyware techniques.
According to the report, more than 15,700 attempts have been made since late 2022 to locate mobile phones in countries including Thailand, South Africa, Norway, Bangladesh, and Malaysia.
At the center of the investigation is the use of the SS7 signaling protocol, a decades-old system originally designed to facilitate call routing, messaging, and international roaming between telecom operators. Researchers found that vulnerabilities within SS7 were exploited to track users’ locations without their knowledge.
The report also highlights the use of newer Diameter systems, which support 4G and 5G networks, suggesting that both legacy and modern infrastructure can be leveraged for surveillance.
Among the techniques identified was “SIMjacking,” a method in which a hidden SMS message is sent to a target device, triggering commands within the SIM card that disclose the phone’s location. This approach allows tracking without any visible sign to the user.
Internal documents cited in the investigation indicate that companies such as Verint Systems and its subsidiary Cognyte were involved in selling tracking systems, including a platform known as SkyLock, to government clients. The system was reportedly deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The investigation also found that a Swiss telecom operator, Fink Telecom Services, enabled certain surveillance firms to impersonate mobile carriers and gain access to global telecom networks, further expanding the reach of tracking operations.
Israeli telecom providers, including 019Mobile and Partner Communications Company, were identified in connection with network activity used in tracking efforts. 019Mobile denied involvement, stating its systems may have been impersonated. Other companies named in the report have not publicly responded.
The findings underscore growing concerns about the misuse of telecommunications infrastructure for surveillance purposes, particularly across international borders where regulatory oversight may be limited.
Experts say the investigation highlights systemic vulnerabilities in global telecom systems and reinforces calls for stronger safeguards to protect user privacy in an increasingly interconnected digital world.