Mitto Tells Clients That Co-Founder Departed After Allegations of Phone Spying

Representatives of Mitto have told clients that co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Ilja Gorelik is no longer involved at the company, following allegations that he operated a secret surveillance service that helped governments track mobile phones, Bloomberg News reported, citing three people familiar with the matter. From the report: Mitto, a closely held company with headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, works with telecom operators in more than 100 countries to provide automated text messaging services to some of the world's largest technology companies, including Google, Twitter and WhatsApp, helping them deliver security codes users need to log in to online accounts. But a Bloomberg News investigation, carried out in collaboration with the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, reported last week that Gorelik had sold access to Mitto's networks to secretly locate people via their mobile phones. It's not known whether Gorelik's status at the company has changed on a permanent or temporary basis, nor is it clear if Gorelik left of his own accord. Mitto and Gorelik didn't respond to requests for comment. Gorelik is still listed on Mitto's website as a member of the company's leadership team, and Swiss business records, which name Gorelik as a board member, haven't been updated.

express horror, collect cash

[bugs2squash]

Do they just want it both ways ? Accept the business and when caught throw someone under the bus ? Sounds like the money came into the business to me

Tracking Via Text?

[WankerWeasel]

Curious how they're able to track location based on text. Send them a text with a link to a website which requests location access?