Rights8/31/2026

State Comptroller: Police Used Technologies Without a Legislative Basis

A special report by the State Comptroller of Israel revealed prohibited practices by the police when wiretapping conversations and obtaining communications data. According to the report, powers to use privacy-intrusive technologies were not enshrined in primary legislation, and the Ministry of Justice's oversight was found to be inadequate.

Key facts

•Document: Special Report 2026-S-002
•Publication date: January 20, 2026
•Examining body: State Comptroller of Israel
•Subject: Wiretapping conversations and obtaining communications data
•Scope of examination: Thousands of documents from the police and the Ministry of Justice

What the Examination Established

State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman examined thousands of documents from the police and the Ministry of Justice, as well as practices involving the use of technological tools. The examination covered the entire process, from submitting a request and installing the tool to obtaining and using the information. The comptroller uncovered prohibited installations and information collection, as well as the extraction and use of material in violation of the prescribed requirements.

Legislative Gap

Over the past decade, the police greatly expanded their technological capabilities, but the appropriate legislative regulation was not completed. The report noted that powers to use tools that seriously infringe upon the sanctity of private life were not enshrined in primary legislation. At the same time, the absence of clear rules limited the police's own ability to use these technologies lawfully and with legal safeguards.

Inadequate Oversight

The police did not provide the Ministry of Justice with sufficient information about the actual capabilities of the tools used. For their part, the ministry's legal units and the State Attorney's Office did not take the initiative to obtain all the necessary information. The comptroller also linked the oversight deficiencies to a shortage of specialists with the required technological knowledge.

Corrective Action Not Yet Complete

The Minister of Justice, the Minister of National Security, the Attorney General, the State Attorney and the Israel Police commissioner were identified as responsible for addressing the deficiencies. The police and the Ministry of Justice had already begun taking action, but the work had not been completed when the report was published. The required steps include legislative amendments, improved oversight mechanisms and clarification of work procedures.

What this means for you

The report confirms for residents of Israel that technologies capable of seriously intruding into private life were used without a sufficient basis in primary legislation and without complete external oversight. However, the examination was systemic and did not address specific criminal cases, so the source does not allow conclusions to be drawn about the consequences for particular investigations. The final rules and oversight mechanisms were still being developed when the report was issued.

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