Intel says it gave training on wiretaps to almost 8,000 people

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

MİT officials say they have so far given over 100 briefings to public and private institutions on intelligence protection of personal data and the right to privacy. DHA photo

The Turkish intelligence service trained 7,400 individuals from both the public and private sectors against illegal eavesdropping after a “change of concept” in 2008, officials have told a parliamentary Commission.

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has so far given over 100 briefings to public and private institutions on intelligence, protection of personal data and the right to privacy, the same officials from MİT said, during a presentation to Parliament’s Eavesdropping Examination Commission on Feb. 27.

However, the officials reportedly told the Commission that MİT was monitoring and eavesdropping to observe potential crimes against the state and espionage.

“We only conduct eavesdropping for intelligence. This eavesdropping can be possible only through instructions of the MİT Undersecretary and with a court ruling. We receive eavesdropping permission from courts easily, as we are monitoring crimes against the state and espionage. Our demands have not been rejected up until now. All areas within the framework of the legislation are our field of intelligence,” officials were quoted as saying.

MİT officials also informed Commission members about the practicalities of illegal eavesdropping. Tie pins, eyeglasses frames, pens, mobile phones and computer screens are just some of the tools that can be used for both eavesdropping and collecting images, they said.

MİT is also collecting intelligence via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, officials said, adding that wireless internet connections had no security and could easily be monitored.

At the time, MİT officials have been able to access “classified information” on junked or destroyed computers that were owned by members of the public sector.

When asked by Commission member deputies about 11 minivans that were equipped with eavesdropping hardware and were known to have entered the country through customs a few years ago, MİT officials said they did not have these minivans in their possession.