The four suspects traded in personal information based on lists received from the information systems of the Meitav unit, which is responsible for screening and placing candidates for military service.
The Ministry of Justice has recently completed an extensive criminal investigation into the systematic violation of the privacy of hundreds of thousands of discharged soldiers and civilians whose sensitive personal information was extracted from the IDF's Meitav Unit database.
The investigation conducted by the ISA enforcement department found that a group of four people established a personal information trading system based on lists received from the information systems of the Meitav unit, which is responsible for screening and placing candidates for military service.
Heading the network were two civilians, who were assisted by two soldiers who had access to the system, through which lists were received containing information about those born between 1988-1993 who were at the time preparing for military service. The information included many details about the candidates, including contact details, the number of children in the family, and the designated role within the military service.
According to the findings of the investigation, between the years 2011-2014 the suspects combed the lists, developing software through which they contacted soldiers, civilians and family members for marketing conversations. In addition, the information was sold to third parties. The suspects did so for a number of years until many complaints were received from citizens about conversations that aroused their suspicion.
The complainants, most of whom were released from the IDF years ago, noted that the group called themselves the "Center for Discharged Soldiers" or "Counseling and Guidance for Discharged Soldiers" and offered them a range of services and products under preferential conditions.
In the wake of suspicions of the use of sensitive personal information, the Privacy Protection Authority launched an extensive criminal investigation in which the business computers were seized and those involved were interrogated.
The findings of the investigation were transferred to the cyber department of the State Attorney's Office. The ISA accused the suspects of violation of privacy, conspiracy, bribery, and removal of a document from legal custody.
According to Alon Bachar, head of the Authority for the Protection of Privacy in the Ministry of Justice, "We, unfortunately, recognize that even in organizations where there is supposed to be increased awareness of the importance of protecting sensitive information, there are those who abuse the system. The Privacy Protection Authority views with particular severity offenses against minors, as happened in this case and will continue to enforce these provisions wherever illegal trade in personal information takes place. "