Shareaza Forensics: Concerns Over Surveillance Software and Protection of Human Rights

The document in question had overlays on certain sections, but despite these obfuscations, it was still possible to decipher the content. For this reason, we have chosen to reproduce the document without these overlays. Additionally, Human Rights Watch is publishing an excerpt from a user manual for the software, which was copyrighted in 2010 and discusses law enforcement's access to personal data about internet users.

This material, obtained through a court filing, formed the basis of our concerns regarding potential law enforcement access to personal information when using the software. We reached out to both CRC and TransUnion, a private data broker, to express these concerns but received no response from either party. We did, however, write letters to both organizations, which we are now publishing.

In addition, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the Department of Justice in April 2019, raising similar concerns about the use of surveillance software to scan networks without warrants for violators. The use of this technology raised concerns over whether it was sufficiently controlled and tested to protect human rights.

It's important to note that Human Rights Watch strongly opposes sexual exploitation and abuse of children, and supports efforts to eradicate these practices. In February 2019, we sent a letter to the US Department of Justice expressing our concerns about the use of software owned by Child Rescue Coalition (CRC), a private non-profit company, to investigate suspected crimes related to the sharing of child sexual exploitation images.

The concerns surrounding Shareaza Forensics highlight the importance of ensuring that surveillance technology is used in a way that respects human rights. It's crucial that law enforcement agencies and private companies take steps to ensure that their use of this technology does not infringe on individuals' rights to privacy and security.

Shareaza forensics