MP Fadlallah, Telecoms Experts Hold Press Conference to Refute STL Indictment Telecoms Evidence
Head of Media and Telecommunications Parliamentary Commission MP Hassan Fadlallah held on Thursday a Press Conference at the Parliament to refute the telecoms evidence presented by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) indictment.
Head of Telecoms Regulatory Authority Imad Hoballah, Senior Spectrum Management Expert Engineer Mohammad Ayoub, and Telecoms Minister Advisor Engineer Diana Abu Ghanem, also took part in the conference to give evidences for the incredibility of the indictment. Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sahnawi was present at the press conference.
In the context of refuting, MP Hassan Fadlallah affirmed that the indictment is based on a co-location and designation of telecoms networks and phone lines, without any detailed explanations.
MP Fadlallah demanded to know the truth about the telecoms data included in the indictment, referring that the Lebanese telecoms data is not clean and it has been manipulated by the "Israeli" enemy, and therefore it cannot be adopted for an indictment.
Fadlallah then introduced the experts in the telecoms field, noting that they took part in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that took place in Mexico, and are totally aware of the status of the Lebanese telecoms networks and data.
On his part, Imad Hoballah stressed that he and his fellow coworkers in the field are concerned to present to the public the objective analysis regarding the telecoms data issue mentioned in the indictment.
"The indictment mentioned an unidentified telecoms network in a certain location, then it sought some phone numbers and therefore a co-location was assumed", Hoballah indicated
He explained that the co-location occurs when signals of two phone lines or more are caught in the same location for a long period of time, and therefore an assumption that they are related to each other is formed.
"The co-location's scientific interpretation can be identified through indicating the geographic location", he stated, further indicating that the accuracy of the data can depend on the immunity of the telecoms network.
He went on to say that there are towers installed in various areas that catch the phone signals, therefore indicating the location and the phone line used. He said that the areas might vary between 50,000 meter squared and 75,000 meter squared. Hoballah therefore concluded that the phones might not be in the same location, for every tower covers the telecoms signals of its assigned area.
"It is impossible to rely only on the telecoms data in order to assume that the people carrying the phones are together related to the incident", he affirmed, with reference to the former PM Rafik Hariri's assassination.
On her part, Telecoms Minister Advisor Diana Abu Ghanem clarified that raising awareness means that each person should be aware of the dangers and threats he or she might be facing when using a telecoms network.
"When we examined this file, we examined it out of responsibility and raising awareness because it targets all the Lebanese", Abu Ghanem further expressed.
She started indicating the threats of the telecoms networks and the insecurity that they have reached, saying "An unsecured repeater can detect all the phone calls of passbyers".
However, Abu Ghanem stressed on the importance of security measures to be adopted in phones and telecoms, which can held dismantle fake stations and virtual private networks installed in other phones.
Moreover, she referred to the SIM card cloning saying it can take place, and once it occurs, the cloner can work on the phone as if it were his own.
"These issues lead to a total control of the telecoms and personal networks", she indicated, adding that therefore a personal profiling on individuals and original phone owners can be conducted.
Diana Abu Ghanem further noted that any phone can this be breached, and fake phone calls can be installed to be delivered any time.
On another hand, Imad Hoballah went on to speaking about the "Israeli" breach of the Lebanese telecoms network, wondering "what is the effect of the "Israeli" breach on the telecoms network and therefore how credible are the telecoms evidences?'
In this regard, Hoballah clarified that the "Israeli" breach of the telecoms sector has weakened the credibility of the Lebanese telecoms data.
He further recalled the "Israeli" espionage achievements against the telecoms network, stating that it had cloned phone and installed them in other phones in an attempt to spy on their owners; who on their part were not aware of the presence of the virtual phone.
Hoballah added, "The Lebanese Army later discovered that the "Israeli" enemy had installed virtual phones in some soldiers' personal phones".
On the same level, Spectrum Management Expert Engineer Mohammad Ayoub affirmed that the virtual phone calls can be fabricated through piracy on telecoms networks.
"Fabricating calls depend on developed data, when it sometimes depend on the sound-print", Ayoub clarified.
"The "Israeli" enemy can easily manipulate and violate the telecoms network, and it was proven that the enemy directly controlled servers of the Lebanese telecoms network", field telecoms expert affirmed.
In addition to that, Ayoub added that programming a phone call to absorb information and data can either take place through a direct agent or through access codes maybe through the internet.
On another hand, Head of Telecoms Regulatory Authority Imad Hoballah commented saying that the three resistance members, who were accused of treason, were later proved innocent after discovering phones installed their personal phone devices.
Furthermore, Diana Abu Ghanem referred to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and its role in tackling such issues, indicating that it is a UN agency is concerned with state issues and private sector telecoms networks.
She announced that the Telecoms Minister informed the ITU of Lebanon's right to demand for compensations for the "Israeli" breaches in the Lebanese telecoms networks, further calling for immediate recovery and intervention regarding the constant "Israeli" breach on the telecoms sector.
At the end of the Press Conference, Head of Media and Telecoms Parliamentary Commission MP Hassan Fadlallah indicated that the indictment interpretations rely on phone lines which their owners are unknown.
"Then the phone lines were designated to be for some individuals depending on a co-location which has lost its credibility", he added
MP Fadlallah reaffirmed, "The STL that claims to work under international law disregarded the decision of the biggest UN agency of ITU that stated that the Lebanese telecoms network is totally breached and controlled by the "Israeli" enemy".
"Scientifically the telecoms evidence or assumption cannot be adopted in the indictment especially in adopting the co-location",
"The telecoms data was not the direct and firm evidence in the indictment", MP Fadlallah finalized his statement.
The telecoms network in Lebanon has been witnessing a history of breaches by the "Israeli" enemy, to the extent that it [the network] was proven by the ITU and other international agencies, to be controlled by the Zionist enemy.
As long as the "Israeli" enemy is aware of all telecoms operations in Lebanon, then no data could be trusted as long as "Israel" has the ability to manipulate it.
Source: Moqawama.org
