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American technology company Sandvine develops advanced technology for network monitoring, products that are sold to, among others, large mobile phone and Internet operators.
Among other things, it is marketed with the ability to blacklist up to 150 million websites, in other words, to block parts of the internet for users. This according to Bloomberg, which refers to sources and documents.
In early 2019, Sandvine They have demonstrated what their technology can do for the Belarusian authorities. This resulted in a $ 2.5 million deal, in which Sandvine’s software was sold through a Russian subcontractor. According to Bloomberg, it was installed in two facilities in Minsk, where it is used to monitor the country’s internet traffic.
Thus, the government had a powerful tool for Internet censorship when protests against incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko gained momentum.
Sandvine is American, but with extensive operations in Sweden and at least one Swede in a key position. The company has offices in Varberg and Malmö, with 95 employees according to the latest information. The company recorded sales of SEK 165 million in Sweden in 2018.
In Sweden, there is also the technical director of Sandvine, Alexander Haväng. As recently as last week, it confirmed that Belarus could use the technology for internet censorship, according to a recording of a conference call that Bloomberg has read.
– We do not want to play world police, is said to have said according to Bloomberg.
– We believe that each independent country should be allowed to decide what is allowed and what is not allowed in the country.
When DN arrives at Alexander Haväng on Monday, he does not want to discuss the issue.
– No comment on that, he says and refers to the fact that Sanvine will make a written statement later that day.
The information about Sandvine and Belarus has sparked protests in the United States at a high political level, with Senator Dick Durbin demanding that the company’s actions be investigated by the US Treasury Department.
Read more:
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Michael Winiarski: Belarus’ independence at stake when Putin meets Lukashenko
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