Skynet monitors mobile data of 55 million Pakistanis, claims Israeli author

Pakistan's mobile networks are under intense scrutiny as an artificial intelligence system, named Skynet, monitors the country's mobile phone activity.

Renowned Israeli author Yuval Noah Harari's book, Nexus, revealed the system has been monitoring Pakistan's mobile phone network to identify potential terrorists.

The system collects data from 55 million Pakistanis and uses it to predict the likelihood of individuals being terrorists, Harari mentioned in his book.

Skynet, installed by the US National Security Agency in 2014 and 2015, analyses online writings, travel records, and social media posts to flag individuals as "suspected terrorists." 

However, a former CIA and NSA director has criticised Skynet for its unreliability, citing instances where the US has taken action against individuals based solely on online metadata.

Edward Snowden's 2013 leak revealed that US and UK intelligence agencies hacked the world's largest SIM card manufacturer, gaining access to SIM data, passcodes, and encryption keys. 

The breach has compromised mobile phone security globally, as per Snowden.

Harari's findings raise concerns about individual privacy and national security.

"The use of AI for mass surveillance is a recipe for disaster," he warned.