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Samsung Embeds Israeli Surveillance App on Phones Across MENA (www.moroccoworldnews.com)

submitted 1 week ago by IndustryStandard@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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A nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing human rights in digital spaces across West Asia and North Africa — is warning that Israeli-linked software secretly embedded in Samsung phones across the MENA region poses a serious surveillance threat.

According to SMEX, Samsung’s A and M series devices either come preloaded with the app “Aura” or install it automatically through system updates, without the user’s consent. The application reportedly collects a wide range of personal and device-specific data, including IP addresses, device fingerprints, hardware details, and network information.

In 2022, Samsung MENA partnered with Israeli tech company IronSource, integrating its Aura software into Galaxy A and M series phones across the region. The partnership was publicly marketed as a way to “enhance user experience” with AI-powered apps and content suggestions.

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[-] PanArab@lemmy.ml 25 points 1 week ago

Shame that Samsung is the top selling Android vendor. I wasn't aware of this when I went with Honor but I'm glad I did.

[-] Samsuma@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 week ago

goes to show anything tech coming out of US, EU and its client states are not ever trustworthy.. I would go as far as to e.g. not buy a Bosch fridge, never mind the other reasons not to.

[-] artiman@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Isn't Samsung from South Korea?

[-] Samsuma@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yeah that's right, which is why I made mention of "client states" so as to include South Korea

this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2025

355 points (99.2% liked)

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