Ethiopian government signals intelligence and cybersecurity agency
The Information Network Security Administration or INSA (Amharic : የመረጃ መረብ ደህንነት አስተዳደር , romanized : Yemereja Mereb Dehninet Astedader ) is the national signals intelligence and cybersecurity agency of Ethiopia , founded when the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) was the ruling party of Ethiopia.[ 1]
The Information Network Security Administration was founded during the EPRDF 's period in power.[ 1] The legal basis of creating INSA in 2006 was the Council of Ministers Regulation No.130/2006, with goals including defence of Ethiopian information infrastructure.[citation needed ] Among the initial activities of INSA was spying on dissidents among the Ethiopian diaspora using "sophisticated intrusion and surveillance software", and to lay legal charges against journalists and opposition activists and politicians of "treason" and "terrorism".[ 1]
In 2021, INSA shifted to new headquarters in a building constructed near Wello Sefer at a cost of Br 2.1 billion. The new building is shared by the Ministry of Peace , Artificial Intelligence Center, and Financial Intelligence Center.[ 2]
The Council of Ministers Regulation No.250/2011 and Proclamation No.808/2013 updated the initial legal definitions of INSA.[ 3]
Leadership and structure [ edit ] On 20 April 2018, Temesgen Tiruneh was appointed Director-General of INSA,[ 4] who later become director of NISS . As of February 2021, the head of INSA was Shumete Gizaw .[ 5] In 2024 Tigist Hamid became Director-General of INSA,[ 6] replacing Solomon Soka.[citation needed ]
In October 2018, responsibility for INSA was given to the Ministry of Peace .[ 7] It was reverted back to the office of the prime minister in October 2021.[ 8]
Officers working for INSA at the Addis Ababa Headquarters and Head Office INSA stated in 2023 that during nine months, it had limited the damage from 4400 attempted and successful cyberattacks against Ethiopian institutions.[ 9]
INSA plays a role in surveillance and internet censorship in close cooperation with Ethio telecom and other government agencies. As of 2014[update] , INSA had the technical ability to listen to live mobile phone calls, while Ethio telecom did not.[ 10] In 2013, INSA employees had access to the email and other passwords of users of Woredanet (funded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank ), Schoolnet (funded by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme ), and Agrinet.[ 10] : 61
Role in arrests of dissidents [ edit ] In 2014, Human Rights Watch found that INSA played a significant role in police and security services' surveillance of Ethiopian citizens' private communications that led to the arbitrary detention of political dissidents.[ 10] [ 11]
In 2021, INSA ran accounts promoting Ethiopian federal government points of view on Facebook . Facebook closed the accounts, describing them as "inauthentic". The Director of INSA described the accounts as covering "the reality in Ethiopia" and stated that INSA would develop an Ethiopian social media network .[ 9]
2019 password incident [ edit ] In 2019, INSA was the subject of notoriety when a crack revealed that more than half of a sample of 300 agents were using extremely simple passwords .[ 12]
^ a b c "Editorial: Ethiopia must end intimidation campaign against academics and activists" . Awash Post . 2020-12-05. Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-02-24 .
^ "PM Inaugurates INSA's New Headquarters Building (April 17, 2021) - Embassy of Ethiopia" . 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2024-04-28 .
^ "duties and responsibilities - en - INSA" . insa.gov.et . Retrieved 2024-04-28 .
^ "PM appoints Federal Gov't Officials" . Walta . 20 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-10-13. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
^ "Norwegian professor's life threatened by Ethiopians" . Bergens Tidende /Tghat . 2021-02-11. Archived from the original on 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-13 .
^ "Two of Ethiopia's Intelligence, Security Institutions Get New Leadership" . Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation . Archived from the original on 2024-06-29. Retrieved 2024-04-28 .
^ Shaban, Abdur Rahman Alfa (2018-10-17). "Ethiopia's Minister of Peace: the country's most powerful woman?" . Africanews . Archived from the original on 2020-12-24. Retrieved 2020-12-24 .
^ "News: PM Abiy forms new gov't; adds 20 institutions including NISS, INSA, investment & financial security accountable to his office" . Addis Standard . 6 October 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2022 .
^ a b Ethiopia – Not Free – 26/100 , Freedom House , 2024, Wikidata Q126938434 , archived from the original on 29 June 2024
^ a b c 'They Know Everything We Do' Telecom and Internet Surveillance in Ethiopia (PDF) , Human Rights Watch , 25 March 2014, Wikidata Q126938305 , archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2024
^ Felix Horne (3 October 2017), How US Surveillance Helps Repressive Regimes—the Ethiopia Case , Human Rights Watch , Wikidata Q126938205 , archived from the original on 29 June 2024
^ Kay, Felicity (30 May 2019). "Report: Ethiopian INSA Agents Hacked: 142 agents chose the predictable password 'P@$$w0rd' " . Safety Detectives . Archived from the original on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 13 October 2019 .
Foreign intelligence Domestic intelligence
Algeria: CSS
Angola: SINSE
Argentina: SIDE
Australia: ASIO
Austria: DSN
Azerbaijan: DTX
Bangladesh: SB
Belarus: KGB RB
Belgium: VS/SE
Bosnia and Herzegovina: SIPA
Botswana: DIS
Brazil: PF
Brunei: IRD
Bulgaria: DANS
Burundi: SNR
Canada: CSIS
Chile: ANI
China: MSS
Colombia: DNI
Congo (Democratic Republic of): ANR
Croatia: SOA
Czech Republic: BIS
Denmark: PET
Egypt: EHS
Estonia: KAPO
Finland: SUPO
France: DGSI
Georgia: SSSG
Germany: BfV , LfV
Ghana: GPS , CID
Greece: EYP
Hong Kong: NSD , CPGNSO
Hungary: AH
India: IB
Indonesia: Baintelkam Polri (id ), BIN
Iran: VAJA , IRGC , PAVA
Ireland: CSB , SDU , NSU
Israel: Shin Bet
Italy: AISI
Japan: NPA , TMPD PSB , PSIA
Kazakhstan: NSC
Kenya: NIS
Kosovo: AKI
Latvia: VDD
Lithuania: STT
Lebanon: ISF , LSS
Luxembourg: SREL
Macau: DS
Malaysia: SB
Moldova: SIS
Netherlands: NCTV
New Zealand: NZSIS
Nigeria: SSS
North Korea: SSD
Republic of North Macedonia: IA
Norway: PST
Oman: ISS
Pakistan: IB , FIA
Palestine: PSS
Paraguay: SNI
Peru: DINI
Philippines: NBI , NICA
Poland: ABW , SOP , SM
Portugal: SIS
Romania: SRI
Russia: FSB
Saudi Arabia: Mabahith
Serbia: BIA
Singapore: ISD
Somalia: NISA
South Africa: SSA
South Korea: Intelligence Bureau, KNPA
Spain: CITCO
Sri Lanka: SIS
Sweden: SÄPO
Switzerland: NDB
Syria: GSD
Taiwan: MJIB
Thailand: ISOC , SB
Togo: ANR
Turkey: MİT , İB
Uganda: ISO
Ukraine: SBU
United Kingdom: Security Service (MI5 ) , NDEDIU , NCA , NBIS
United States: I&A , FBI
Uzbekistan: SNB
Venezuela: SEBIN
Vietnam: TC5 (vi )
Zimbabwe: CIO
Military intelligence
Algeria: DCSA
Angola: SIM
Australia: DIO
Austria: HNaA
Bangladesh: DGFI
Belarus: GRU MO RB
Belgium: ADIV/SGRS
Brazil: DIE
Canada: CFINTCOM
China: CMC JSD Intelligence Bureau
Congo (Democratic Republic of): DEMIAP
Croatia: VSOA
Cuba: DCIM
Czech Republic: VZ
Denmark: FE
Egypt: DMISR
Finland: PE TIEDOS
France: DRM , DGSE
Germany: MAD
Ghana: MIU
Hungary: KNBSZ
Iran: General Staff, SAHEFAJA , SAHEFASA , SAHEFAVEDJA
India: DMI , DIA
Indonesia: BAIS TNI , Pusintelad
Ireland: G2
Israel: Aman
Italy: CII
Japan: DIH
Kazakhstan: NSC
Lithuania: AOTD
Malaysia: DISD
Maldives: MNDF
Morocco: DGED
Myanmar: Sa Ya Pa
Netherlands: MIVD
New Zealand: DDIS
Nigeria: DIA
North Korea: RGB
Republic of North Macedonia: MSSI
Norway: E-tjenesten
Pakistan: MI , NI , AI
Philippines: ISAFP
Poland: SKW , SWW
Portugal: CISMIL
Romania: DGIA
Russia: GRU
Saudi Arabia: AFISC
Serbia: VBA , VOA
Singapore: MIO
Slovakia: VS
Slovenia: OVS
South Africa: SANDF-ID
South Korea: DIA , DCC
Spain: CIFAS
Sri Lanka: DMI
Sweden: MUST
Switzerland: MND , LWND
Syria: MI , AFID
Taiwan: MIB
Thailand: AFSC
Turkey: GENKUR İ.D.B.
Ukraine: HUR MO
United Kingdom: DI
United States: DIA
Venezuela: DGCIM
Vietnam: TC2
Signals intelligence
Australia: ASD
Bangladesh: NTMC
Brazil: 2ª Sch/EMD
Canada: CSE
China: SIGINT
Croatia: OTC
Ethiopia: INSA
Finland: PVTIEDL
France: DGSE , DRSD
Germany: BND
Ghana: RDU
India: JCB ,NTRO
Indonesia: BSSN (id )
Ireland: CIS
Israel: 8200
Japan: DIH
Kazakhstan: NSC
Netherlands: NSO , JSCU
New Zealand: GCSB
North Korea: RGB
Norway: NSM
Pakistan: JSIB
Poland: AW , ABW , SKW , SWW, NCBC, gOR 3.FO , CRiWWRE, 2.ORel, 6.ORel, JW NIL
Romania: STS
Russia: Spetssvyaz
Saudi Arabia: PSS
South Africa: SSA
Spain: CCN
Sweden: FRA
Switzerland: NDB
Syria: MI
Turkey: MİT-SİB
UAE: SIA
Ukraine: Derzhspetszviazok
United Kingdom: GCHQ
United States: NSA
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