WikiLeaks has released hundreds of documents that paint an ugly picture of electronic spying around the world.

“It sounds like something out of Hollywood, but as of today, mass interception systems, built by Western intelligence contractors, including ‘for political opponents’ are a reality,” say the Spy Files, a new WikiLeaks report.

“The WikiLeaks Spy Files reveal the details of which companies are making billions selling sophisticated tracking tools to government buyers, flouting export rules, and turning a blind eye to dictatorial regimes that abuse human rights,” says the report.

Working in cooperation with non-governmental and media organizations in six countries, WikiLeaks promises to release further information “this week and into next year.”

Nearly all of the 160 intelligence contractors listed in the Spy Files are based in developed countries, including Canada.

All are legitimate businesses offering security-enhancing tools to corporate and government customers.

Although it provides no specific examples at this point, WikiLeaks suggests the technologies offered by these companies could be used to spy on people.

WikiLeaks and its partners worry that, since Sept. 11, 2011, police and military surveillance operations have shifted focus from individual targets to systems of mass surveillance.

“Intelligence companies such as (South Africa-based) VASTech secretly sell equipment to permanently record the phone calls of entire nations,” the report states. “Systems to infect every Facebook user, or smartphone owner of an entire population group are on the intelligence market.

Although these businesses are not included on the Spy Files’ list of dirty dealers, the report also accuses telecommunications companies for being too willing to share their data with authorities.

The report singles out Waterloo-based Research in Motion’s willingness to release customer information to the British government during riots last August.

“RIM has been in similar negotiations to share BlackBerry Messenger data with the governments of India, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the Untied Arab Emirates,” the report states.

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