WikiLeaks has published documents it says show how the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) collects information from electronic devices. The anti-secrecy group did not say how it received the 8,700 documents and files connected to the CIA’s Center for Cyber Intelligence. But WikiLeaks said the number is greater than the National Security Agency (NSA) documents provided by Edward Snowden in 2013. Snowden formerly worked as a contractor for the NSA. VOA and other news media could not confirm if the documents released on Tuesday accurately describe CIA efforts to get information from smart phones, televisions and computers. Jonathan Liu, spokesman for the CIA, said the agency does not comment on whether leaked documents are real. One of the more sensational examples of hacking reported by WikiLeaks involved Samsung smart televisions. WikiLeaks said the CIA infected some smart TVs with a computer virus known as “Weeping Angel.” The virus created a fake off button that left owners thinking the receiver wasn’t operating. But while in the off position, the TV reportedly would record discussions and send the recordings over the Internet to a CIA computer. WikiLeaks said the agency developed tools that could also work around security measures on Apple iPhones and Google’s Android phones.
