April 18, 2026
Akahata has learned that the Ministry of Defense plans to purchase an Israeli-made mobile forensic tool at the end of July which unlocks smartphones and extracts personal information. This has raised concern about the risk that the tool would be used by the Self-Defense Forces to surveil the public.
The tool is called “Inseyets” produced by an Israeli company, Cellebrite, famous for its digital forensics technology which has been used in the Gaza genocide in its attacks as well as for the surveillance and suppression of journalists and demonstrators in autocratic countries.
Inseyets enables users, such as the police and intelligence agencies, to crack passwords without obtaining individual consent, extract from mobile phones all data, including call records, address books, e-mail logs, location information, and even recover data. In addition, the tool can automatically create a report after extraction.
In response to an Akahata inquiry, the Defense Ministry explained that such devices will be used by the SDF’s guard units, which are responsible for internal base security, discipline of personnel, and policing within the compound, to collect information from smartphones when conducting investigations.
Lawyer Onodera Yoshitaka, who played a part in a legal fight against the Ground SDF intelligence security unit’s monitoring of the public, expressed concern that the introduction of a technology to hack into mobile phones without the owners’ consent will lead to mass surveillance and serious privacy violations.
Sugihara Koji of an anti-war civil group said that under a situation where the government, with the aim of expanding the government’s intelligence gathering capabilities, intends to enact an anti-spay law and establish a national intelligence council. The introduction of the mobile forensic tool, which could be used for the monitoring of the general populace, in the SDF is unacceptable.
The tool is called “Inseyets” produced by an Israeli company, Cellebrite, famous for its digital forensics technology which has been used in the Gaza genocide in its attacks as well as for the surveillance and suppression of journalists and demonstrators in autocratic countries.
Inseyets enables users, such as the police and intelligence agencies, to crack passwords without obtaining individual consent, extract from mobile phones all data, including call records, address books, e-mail logs, location information, and even recover data. In addition, the tool can automatically create a report after extraction.
In response to an Akahata inquiry, the Defense Ministry explained that such devices will be used by the SDF’s guard units, which are responsible for internal base security, discipline of personnel, and policing within the compound, to collect information from smartphones when conducting investigations.
Lawyer Onodera Yoshitaka, who played a part in a legal fight against the Ground SDF intelligence security unit’s monitoring of the public, expressed concern that the introduction of a technology to hack into mobile phones without the owners’ consent will lead to mass surveillance and serious privacy violations.
Sugihara Koji of an anti-war civil group said that under a situation where the government, with the aim of expanding the government’s intelligence gathering capabilities, intends to enact an anti-spay law and establish a national intelligence council. The introduction of the mobile forensic tool, which could be used for the monitoring of the general populace, in the SDF is unacceptable.
