A digital security expert talks to "NewsYemen" about the dangers of the "YOU" company and its role in Houthi spying on the south
English - Sunday 19 June 2022 الساعة 03:30 pm
Aden, NewsYemen, special:
An expert in the field of digital security spoke to (NewsYemen) about the risks posed by the Yemeni Omani Communications Company "YOU", which recently launched an Internet service with "4G" technology and began expanding in the liberated areas, especially the southern governorates.
The security expert, whose identity is preserved by the site as he resides in Sanaa, which is under the control of the Houthi militia, said that knowing the contributors to this company determines the nature of its identity and the extent of the risk it poses to legitimacy and the liberated areas, pointing out that the previous company, MTN, is a global and committed company. International terms and agreements, meaning that it cannot be used for spying.
The company's website clarified that "YOU" is an extension of Spacetel, which was launched in 2001 and merged with the "MTN" group in July 2006, before it decided to withdraw in 2022 and sell its share to the Yemen General United Telecom Company.
The information circulated indicates that YOU is a union between Yemeni investors believed to be leaders of the Houthi militia and Omani others.
The expert pointed out that there is no clear information about the contributors, but he did not rule out that the Houthi militia would use it if it was true that they own the company in spying on users, which it was unable to do when the international company MTN was responsible.
He said: "It is not new for the militias to spy on citizens and use telecom companies to track their opponents, and they use Yemen Mobile to achieve this purpose. But the difference is that this new company will enhance the militias' financial revenues, especially as it provides a fast internet service that many telecom companies have been unable to achieve ".
It is worth noting that the local authority in the capital, Aden, directed the suspension of the sale of “YOU” segments, as well as the suspension of maintenance and installation operations for the new towers, as part of the Yemeni Omani Telecom Company’s moves to expand the Internet service with “4G” technology.
