Harb on Illegal Networks: Violating Country's Sovereignty Unacceptable

Telecommunications Minister Butros Harb stated on Wednesday that violations against the country's sovereignty and its national security are unacceptable, assuring that perpetrators behind the illegal internet networks will be punished.

“We will not accept violations against our national sovereignty and security, nor will we accept infringing on the privacy rights of the Lebanese. These crimes will not go unpunished,” Harb stated in a press conference.

“The networks belong to suspicious sides and we consider it a crime against our sovereignty,” he pointed out, in reference to the possibility that the networks can be breached by Lebanon's long-time foe Israel or any party that wants to spy on the country.

“We are in front of an extensive system with wide expertise. Some of the perpetrators have already been implicated in the Barouk scandal,” he added.

Last week and during a meeting of the parliamentary media committee it was unveiled that a “mafia” is taking advantage of internet services by installing internet stations that are not subject to the state control.

The owners of these stations are buying international internet bandwidth with nominal cost from Turkey and Cyprus which they are selling back to Lebanese subscribers at reduced prices.

Harb added: “Some sensitive state departments were victims of illegal internet providers,” he said pointing out that they inadvertently subscribed to the services at a nominal cost and sometimes for free.

He stressed that the file was referred to the related judicial and security authorities.

The Minister stressed that the equipment were confiscated, he said: “Our technical teams were able to uncover unlicensed technical equipment in different locations on several mountainous terrains.”

Later during the day, Head of the parliamentary media committee MP Hassan Fadlallah said after a weekly meeting of lawmakers with Speaker Nabih Berri: “The parliament will address the illegal internet network. We are faced with a system that works in parallel to that of the state and it is open to Israeli spying."

It has been reported that wireless internet towers and technical equipment were placed lawlessly in some mountainous terrains including Tannourine, al-Dinnieh, Sannine and al-Zaarour.

Smuggled internet services initiate risks namely the possibility of security breach as it lacks the basic control standards exposing Lebanon's security to third parties including Israel.

Adding to the above is the fact that smuggling online services outside legal frameworks is a waste for the state's treasury amounting to over $2 million losses on a monthly basis.

In 2009, a telecommunications station in the Barouk area of the Shouf was uncovered, triggering heated debate on the involvement of Israel in spying operations.

D.A.

G.K.