A former CIA operative has disclosed the alarming reality of the extent to which smartphones and similar devices can eavesdrop on conversations without users’ awareness. Many individuals have raised concerns about the precise targeting of advertisements on their phones, suggesting that the notion of our devices listening to us is no longer just a concept from science fiction novels.

John Kiriakou, a former CIA analyst and operative who later became a whistleblower after exposing the agency’s controversial enhanced interrogation program, highlighted the covert surveillance techniques employed by intelligence agencies worldwide. In a conversation with podcast host Steven Bartlett, Kiriakou emphasized the potential risks associated with digital security breaches, indicating that various entities possess the capability to infiltrate and compromise our technological devices, despite common assumptions about their security.

According to Kiriakou, intercepting communications is only a small part of the larger issue. He referenced the “Vault 7 Revelations,” where a disgruntled CIA software engineer leaked highly classified documents to WikiLeaks, shedding light on the agency’s ability to manipulate smart TV speakers into functioning as microphones, even when the device is switched off. Kiriakou warned that these devices could transmit audio back to the CIA without the user’s knowledge.

Furthermore, he revealed that as early as the 1980s, the CIA had the technology to remotely control a car’s computer system, enabling them to potentially cause fatal accidents by manipulating the vehicle’s operations.

Kiriakou’s tenure at the CIA involved counterterrorism efforts post the 9/11 attacks, during which he reportedly refused training in what was termed “enhanced interrogation techniques.” Subsequently, he faced legal repercussions for disclosing information about the agency’s practices and was sentenced to prison for leaking sensitive details about CIA operations.

After serving a two-year sentence in a federal penitentiary in Pennsylvania, Kiriakou was granted home confinement. His revelations have sparked discussions about the implications of pervasive surveillance and the potential risks associated with modern technology.