The Ministry of Justice’s Protection of Privacy Unit (PPU) has recently completed an extensive criminal investigation into the systematic violation of the privacy of hundreds of thousands of discharged soldiers and civilians.

The authority attributes to the suspects offenses of violation of privacy, conspiracy, bribery and removal of a documents from legal custody. The operation was headed by two civilians assisted by two soldiers who had access to the database.

The suspects allegedly operated during the years 2011-2014, during which they violated the privacy of hundreds of thousands of discharged soldiers and civilians, among other things by selling information about them to third parties.

As part of the investigation, which was conducted by the Enforcement Department of the Authority for the Protection of Privacy, it emerged that sensitive personal information was removed from the database of the Meitav Unit in the IDF, which is responsible for screening and assigning inductees for their military service.

According to the researchers, these lists included lists of information about those born in 1988-1993, who were at the time preparing for military service. The information included many details about the candidates for enlistment, including contact details, the number of children in the family, and their designated role within the military following induction.

The investigation revealed that the suspects scanned the lists and developed a program 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 years, until complaints were received from citizens about conversations that aroused their suspicions.

The complainants, most of whom were released from the IDF years ago, noted that the authorities called themselves the “Center for Discharged Soldiers” or “Counseling and Guidance for Discharged Soldiers,” and offered a range of services and products under preferential conditions. Some of the complainants even said that the parties knew about sensitive personal details, such as the existence of additional citizenship.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)