Garda Síochána and Cognyte Technologies: The Controversial Use of Israeli Spyware in Ireland

In 2024, the Garda’s Security and Intelligence Section paid €276,433 for cutting-edge espionage technology, including phone-tapping and data-extraction tools, sparking debates about privacy, accountability, and the ethics of such partnerships.

This  blog dives into the heart of this issue, exploring Cognyte’s global controversies, the Garda’s secretive procurement practices, and the implications for Irish citizens.

We’ll tackle burning FAQs like “Can Garda listen to your phone?” and “Can Garda track your car?” while drawing parallels to global crime narratives, such as those explored in Jimmy Burke’s Violent Legacy in Goodfellas and Secret Ireland’s Gangster Stories.

Cognyte Technologies: A Global Leader in Surveillance Tech

Headquartered in Herzliya, Israel, Cognyte Technologies is a titan in the surveillance industry, serving over 1,000 clients across 100 countries.

Spun off from Verint Systems in 2021, Cognyte offers a suite of Garda technology, including phone- and data-tapping tools, investigative data analysis software, and the secretive “First Mile” system, which tracks mobile phone locations using only a phone number.

These tools can intercept calls, texts, and entire device contents, making them powerful for law enforcement but also prone to misuse.

Cognyte’s deep ties to Israeli security services, highlighted by the appointment of Nadav Argaman, former Shin Bet chief, as a senior adviser, raise questions about its ethical stance.

Cognyte’s global track record is fraught with controversy. Under its former parent company, it sold surveillance tools to Myanmar in 2021, defying an Israeli ban just before the country’s military coup.

Its technology has also been used in South Sudan, Azerbaijan, and Indonesia, where it targeted LGBT communities, leading to arrests and torture, as reported by Human Rights Watch.

In 2021, Meta banned 100 Cognyte-linked accounts for using fake profiles to surveil journalists and politicians in countries like Serbia, Colombia, and Kenya.

In 2022, Norway’s government pension fund divested from Cognyte, citing risks of human rights violations, a warning sign for Ireland’s adoption of this Israeli spyware.

Garda’s Financial Ties to Cognyte: What We Know

In 2024, An Garda Síochána’s Security and Intelligence Section made two payments to Cognyte Technologies: €213,141 and €63,292, totaling €276,433.

These transactions, documented in Garda purchasing records for items exceeding €20,000, were for surveillance tools used in high-stakes operations like counter-terrorism and organized crime investigations.

A Freedom of Information Act request for further details was rejected on national security grounds, confirming only that the purchases supported the Security and Intelligence Section’s Garda surveillance efforts. The Garda’s refusal to disclose whether payments continued into 2025, combined with its tight-lipped stance, has intensified public skepticism about transparency.

The timing of these payments is significant.

They occurred just before then-Tánaiste Micheál Martin’s 2024 directive to the Department of Defence to cease purchasing Israeli military equipment, following a court ruling on Israel’s actions in Palestine.

However, this directive did not extend to Garda Síochána, which maintains autonomy in its technology procurement.

The secrecy surrounding these deals, especially given Cognyte’s controversial history, raises critical questions about oversight and accountability. For more on global crime dynamics, explore Secret Ireland’s Gangster Stories.

The Ethical Tightrope: Security vs. Privacy

The Garda’s adoption of Israeli spyware from Cognyte Technologies places Ireland at a crossroads between national security and individual privacy.

Ireland faces escalating threats from cybercrime, terrorism, and espionage, with a 2025 Garda report highlighting vulnerabilities to foreign spies targeting intellectual property.

Cognyte’s tools, capable of extracting device data or tracking locations, are vital for addressing these threats. However, their potential for abuse is stark, as evidenced by cases like Brazil, where Cognyte’s technology was used to monitor citizens without oversight under Jair Bolsonaro’s administration.

Israeli human rights lawyer Eitay Mack, who has challenged Cognyte’s sales to Myanmar and Brazil, warns that such tools are “very tempting to abuse” without stringent safeguards.

In Ireland, oversight of Garda intelligence operations is limited. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 regulates some surveillance activities, but critics argue it lacks robust protections. The proposed Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) Bill, still under review in 2025, aims to address biometric surveillance but does not cover tools like Cognyte’s “First Mile.”

The Garda’s €500,000 investment in Cellebrite’s phone-decryption tools in 2024 further complicates the landscape, as both companies have faced criticism for enabling invasive surveillance.

Opposition parties, including Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats, have urged a shift to non-Israeli alternatives, citing ethical concerns. The Garda’s opacity only deepens public distrust in its use of Garda technology.

Global Fallout: Cognyte’s Controversial Footprint

Cognyte’s global operations reveal the dangers of unchecked surveillance. In Serbia, Amnesty International documented its technology enabling spyware campaigns against journalists.

In Indonesia, it facilitated persecution of marginalized groups. The “First Mile” tool, which tracks phone locations with minimal data, has been particularly contentious, with details emerging only after investigations into Brazil’s misuse of Cognyte products.

These cases highlight the need for strict regulation, a lesson Ireland must consider as it deploys Garda technology from Cognyte. The Garda’s reliance on such tools also reflects broader issues in Ireland’s intelligence framework, which lacks a dedicated agency and relies on Garda and the Defence Forces’ J2 unit. A 2025 report criticized this fragmented system, noting poor coordination and distrust among agencies, which hinders oversight of powerful surveillance tools.

The controversy extends beyond Cognyte. Garda’s use of Cellebrite’s decryption technology, which unlocks smartphones, mirrors global trends where law enforcement adopts invasive tools with limited scrutiny.

For a deeper look at how surveillance intersects with organized crime, check out Jimmy Burke’s Violent Legacy in Goodfellas, which explores the darker side of criminal networks.

FAQs: Understanding Garda Surveillance Powers

Can Garda listen to your phone?

An Garda Síochána can intercept phone communications under the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993, but only with judicial authorization.

The Security and Intelligence Section, which purchased Cognyte Technologies tools, uses phone-tapping capabilities for investigations into serious crimes, terrorism, or national security threats. Cognyte’s technology enables interception of calls, texts, and device data, but such actions must be justified as necessary and proportionate, with oversight from a designated judge.

The Garda’s refusal to disclose details about its Cognyte purchases, citing national security, fuels concerns about transparency and potential overreach in Garda surveillance.

Can Gardaí bug your house?

Yes, Gardaí can place surveillance devices, such as audio bugs, in private properties under the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, provided they obtain approval from a District Court judge.

This is typically reserved for serious offenses like murder, organized crime, or terrorism. Cognyte’s espionage technology, including data-tapping tools, could complement these operations by capturing digital communications.

While legal safeguards exist, the Garda’s secretive use of Cognyte tools and limited oversight raise fears of abuse, particularly given global cases where similar technology targeted activists and journalists.

Why are people leaving the Gardaí?

An Garda Síochána faces a retention crisis driven by low morale, inadequate resources, and overwhelming workloads. A 2023 Garda Representative Association survey found that 70% of Gardaí considered resigning due to poor pay, lack of support, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

As of 2025, the force has only 13,200 members, well below its 15,000 target. The controversy surrounding Garda technology purchases, such as those from Cognyte, exacerbates internal and public distrust, as officers face scrutiny for using ethically questionable tools.

High-profile scandals and perceptions of politicized policing further erode job satisfaction, driving resignations.

Can Gardaí search you?

Gardaí can conduct searches of individuals if they have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, as permitted under laws like the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

This includes street searches, vehicle checks, or searches during arrests for suspected possession of drugs, weapons, or other illegal items.

Garda intelligence tools, such as Cognyte’s data-extraction software, may be used to access devices during these investigations. Consent is not always required, but Gardaí must provide a reason for the search unless impractical. Refusal to comply can lead to arrest.

Is my phone being monitored by the police?

Your phone could be monitored by Gardaí if you’re suspected of serious criminal activity or posing a national security threat. The Security and Intelligence Section’s use of Cognyte Technologies tools, confirmed by 2024 payments, enables phone tapping and data extraction.

Such actions require judicial approval under the 1993 Interception Act, but the Garda’s secrecy—evidenced by denied FOI requests—raises privacy concerns. For ordinary citizens uninvolved in crime, monitoring is unlikely, but Cognyte’s history of enabling mass surveillance globally underscores the need for vigilance.

Can the local police tap your phone?

Local Gardaí cannot independently tap phones; this authority rests with the Security and Intelligence Section, which uses tools like those from Cognyte for national-level investigations.

Phone tapping requires a District Court judge’s warrant under the 1993 Interception Act, typically for serious crimes or security threats. Local Gardaí may request surveillance through higher channels, but they don’t directly access espionage technology.

The centralized process aims to ensure oversight, but the power of tools like Cognyte’s “First Mile” raises questions about proportionality and accountability.

Can you refuse to give your name to a Garda?

In most situations, you can refuse to provide your name to a Garda, as there’s no general legal obligation to do so unless you’re arrested or suspected of a specific offense.

Under Section 24 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, Gardaí can demand your name and address for public order offenses, and refusal may lead to arrest. Garda intelligence tools, potentially including Cognyte’s data systems, could be used to verify identities, making refusal riskier in practice.

Always ask for the Garda’s legal basis to ensure they’re acting within their powers.

Can Garda track your car?

Gardaí can track vehicles using technologies like Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, which scan license plates in real-time for crime or terrorism investigations.

Additionally, Garda technology like Cognyte’s “First Mile” could link mobile devices to vehicles for tracking, requiring judicial authorization for serious cases. The Garda’s lack of transparency about its surveillance tools, including Cognyte purchases, raises concerns about unchecked monitoring, especially given the technology’s potential for broad surveillance.

Ireland’s Intelligence Challenges: A Fragmented System

Ireland’s reliance on Cognyte Technologies exposes deep flaws in its national security framework. Unlike countries with dedicated intelligence agencies, Ireland depends on Garda Síochána’s Security and Intelligence Section and the Defence Forces’ J2 unit, a structure criticized as “ad hoc” in a 2025 report.

Poor coordination and distrust between agencies hinder effective oversight, particularly for powerful tools like Cognyte’s. The National Security Analysis Centre (NSAC), intended to streamline intelligence, has failed to clarify roles, leaving gaps in accountability.

The Garda’s investment in cybercrime units, such as the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, shows progress, but the use of ethically fraught Israeli spyware demands stricter regulation.

Public concern is growing, especially as Gardaí also use Cellebrite’s phone-decryption tools, which have faced similar criticism for enabling invasive surveillance.

Opposition leaders like Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy advocate for non-Israeli alternatives, citing ethical and geopolitical concerns.

The global misuse of Cognyte’s technology, from Myanmar to Brazil, serves as a cautionary tale for Ireland, where transparency and oversight remain limited.

For a broader perspective on crime and power, explore Jimmy Burke’s Violent Legacy in Goodfellas.

Conclusion: Striking a Balance Between Security and Freedom

An Garda Síochána’s payments to Cognyte Technologies for advanced espionage technology highlight a critical tension: the need to combat crime versus the risk of eroding civil liberties.

While tools like phone-tapping and location-tracking systems are essential for tackling cybercrime, terrorism, and organized crime, Cognyte’s history of enabling human rights abuses globally raises serious ethical questions.

The Garda’s secrecy, combined with Ireland’s fragmented intelligence system, fuels distrust and calls for stronger oversight. As Ireland navigates modern security challenges, it must ensure that Garda surveillance serves justice without sacrificing privacy. For more insights into crime and surveillance, dive into Secret Ireland’s Gangster Stories.