Ears and Eyes

Searchable database of cases of physical surveillance devices (microphones, cameras, location trackers…) hidden by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to surveil people or groups engaged in subversive activities.

Country - United Kingdom (14)

Three surveillance cameras were found overlooking a popular inn. They were buried in a hill at a certain distance from the inn. They included a transmitter and a battery pack.

Sources: (en) irishnews.com
Type
Video
Location
Other
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A listening device was found in an allotment area. It was disguised as a rock. It contained two microphones.

Sources: (en) saoradh.irish
Type
Audio
Location
Other
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

Several surveillance devices were installed from 2015 to April 2018 in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to surveil Julian Assange, founder of the news organization Wikileaks, which had taken refuge in the embassy since 2012. During this period of time:

  • The interior cameras were replaced with higher resolution cameras equipped with hidden microphones.
  • Microphones were hidden inside a fire extinguisher and above the storage cabinet in the bathroom used by Assange.
  • Special stickers were attached on the exterior windows of the embassy to facilitate the use of a laser microphone (able to capture audio by detecting the sound vibrations of the windows) from a building nearby.
  • A device capable of transmitting in real-time the information collected by the other devices was installed.

The microphone inside the fire extinguisher was equipped with an SD card and a battery which was changed every twelve hours, while the microphone in the bathroom was connected to the electrical system of the building. The devices were installed by the Spanish company Undercover Global, officially in charge of the security at the embassy. Their installation appeared to have been ordered by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The fire extinguisher where a microphone was hidden
The storage cabinet above which a microphone was hidden
Sources: (en) media.ccc.de
Types
Audio, Video
Location
In buildings
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A listening device was found in the former home of an Irish republican, who had died ten years prior to the discovery of the device. The device consisted of a small microphone, hidden in the ceiling of a downstairs room, along with a number of battery packs found under the floorboards of an upstairs bedroom.

Sources: (en) irishnews.com
Type
Audio
Location
In buildings
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A listening device was found in the home of an Irish republican. The device was built into a joist in a space between the ceiling and a bedroom floor. It contained several small listening devices that were attached to spotlights.

Sources: (en) irishnews.com
Type
Audio
Location
In buildings
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A listening device and a tracking device were found on the car of an Irish republican. The listening device was attached to a rear wheel arch of the car by several powerful magnets. The tracking device was located under the opposite wheel arch. The listening device, able to monitor conversations inside and outside the vehicle, was powered by 12 long-life batteries. The tracking device also appeared to be battery-powered.

Sources: (en) republican-news.org
Types
Audio, Location
Location
In vehicles
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A GPS tracker and a listening device were found on the car of an Irish republican. Parts of the device — battery packs and a transmitter — were hidden behind the car rear bumper.

Sources: (en) republican-news.org ; (en) bbc.com
Types
Audio, Location
Location
In vehicles
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A tracking device was found on the van of an Irish republican. The device was hidden beneath a wheel arch of the vehicle. It was encased in black rubber, contained a long life battery pack and was marked with a British military serial number. Shortly after the discovery of the device, the home of the van owner was raided by police forces in an apparent attempt to retrieve the device.

Sources: (en) republican-news.org
Type
Location
Location
In vehicles
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

Two bluetooth listening devices and a tracking device were found in the car of an Irish republican. The devices were hidden on the underside of the driver's seat, underneath carpet in the rear passenger footwell and affixed behind the rear seats.

Sources: (en) republican-news.org
Types
Audio, Location
Location
In vehicles
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A GPS tracker was found under the car of an Irish republican. It was located inside the car's rear bumper and attached to the vehicle with magnets. Shortly after the device was discovered, the car was seized by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and returned to the owner after a number of hours.

Sources: (en) republican-news.org
Type
Location
Location
In vehicles
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A GPS tracker and a listening device were found under the car of someone linked to Irish republicans. Part of the devices was located under the car bumper. The listening device was able to use a microphone to convey conversations within the vehicle over a mobile phone network.

Sources: (en) republican-news.org
Types
Audio, Location
Location
In vehicles
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A listening device was found in the home of an Irish republican. It was located in a kitchen ceiling cavity. The device included two aerials, batteries and a microphone.

Sources: (en) anphoblacht.com
Type
Audio
Location
In buildings
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A listening device was found in offices used by Irish republicans. The device, disguised as a floor joist, was hidden under the floor of a first floor office with microphones pointing into the office and down into a conference room below. It included a large battery pack.

Sources: (en) irishtimes.com ; (en) telegraph.co.uk
Type
Audio
Location
In buildings
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023

A listening and tracking surveillance device was found in a car used by Irish republicans. The device was built into the body of the car in such a way as to make it impossible for anyone carrying out repairs on the vehicle to find the device. It was able to track the location of the vehicle, record and transmit audio, and could be switched off and on by remote control. It included a microphone built into the middle of the roof of the vehicle, as well as rechargeable batteries wired to the car in such a way as to allow recharging only while the car is running. The wiring, which connected each part of the device, ran along the skin of the car.

Sources: (en) republican-news.org
Types
Audio, Location
Location
In vehicles
Country
United Kingdom
Last updated
March 25, 2023