Now, WikiLeaks founder Assange exposes global surveillance industry

Whistle blowing website WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has revealed the activities of about 160 companies in 25 countries that develop technologies to allow the tracking and monitoring of individuals by their mobile phones, email accounts and internet browsing histories.

"Today (Thursday), we release over 287 files documenting the reality of the international mass surveillance industry - an industry which now sells equipment to dictators and democracies alike in order to intercept entire populations," Assange said.

He said that in the past 10 years it had grown from a covert industry that primarily ... BNN