Iran spying: Canadian firm’s axed 2019 deal raises questions about working with regime – National

A small Canadian telecom service firm is taking issue with a tech watchdog’s report that it discussed working with an alleged front company to help Iranian officials spy on civilians.

Citizen Lab, the Toronto-based digital and human rights organization, alleged in a Monday report that Port Coquitlam, B.C.-based PortaOne was involved in 2019 discussions to help set up a new mobile phone service in the Islamic Republic, which is now facing a massive wave of upheaval.

The Citizen Lab report, which was shared with Global News as well as journalism outlets in two other countries, suggested PortaOne discussed providing back-end services in 2019 to a new Iranian cell service provider.

But based on documents the Citizen Lab described as leaked emails and attachments, the new network was meant to be integrated into Iran’s surveillance state apparatus – with sensitive private information about users’ identities and mobile usage easily accessible to authorities.

PortaOne did not deny that an unnamed sales manager engaged in talks with Ariantel, the Tehran-based mobile provider, in 2018 and 2019, as alleged in the Citizen Lab report. But they said when the deal was submitted for approval, it was not with Ariantel – but a Portuguese-based company they allege was a front for the Iranian mobile provider.

“An immediate investigation by senior management revealed that (a) Portuguese company was a front for Ariantel,” the company said in a statement through their lawyer. PortaOne added that payment was returned and the contract was formally cancelled on Nov. 8, 2019.

“We have since had no involvement whatsoever with or supplied products or services to this Portuguese company, Ariantel … or any other Iranian company or entity. Consequently, any suggestion that PortaOne has supplied software … which is used to intercept or surveil calls in Iran is false.”

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