WikiLeaks publishes more secret CIA tools after the US threatens criminal charges

WikiLeaks released another trove of information on the Central Intelligence Agency’s secrets Friday afternoon, after the Justice Department said it was considering criminal charges against the organization and its founder, Julian Assange.

The latest release is a 31-page user guide for a CIA device called “Weeping Angel” that was posted online on Friday, CBS News reported. The tool was able to turn Samsung televisions into surveillance tools — by way of activating the television’s built-in microphone to record audio.

The tool was co-developed by the CIA and the UK’s MI5 intelligence agency, CNET reported in March. It was designed to “pretend” to turn itself off by deactivating the screen and front LED lights, while using the television’s built-in microphone to record conversations, CNET’s report alleged.

Samsung released a statement addressing the vulnerability in March, saying “Protecting consumers’ privacy and the security of our devices is a top priority at Samsung. We are aware of the report in question and are urgently looking into the matter.”

The latest leak follows the battle between WikiLeaks, the Justice Department and CIA, where officials denounced the leaking of classified government material, and had reopened the case to prosecute the controversial organization.

Read the whole story from Business Insider.

Featured image courtesy of Reuters.