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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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[-] eldavi@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

did you respond to the wrong person? lol

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

No I just hadn't slept since Sunday night, not that I hadn't tried. I honestly don't know what the fuck I was talking about either.

this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2025

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