Multiple Turkish government institutions, including the military and key ministries, rely on cybersecurity solutions from an Israeli company linked to the country’s intelligence and military, investigative journalist Metin Cihan has revealed, citing open source data.
In a series of tweets Cihan detailed how he traced the information through publicly available procurement records and online research methods. He provided evidence showing that Checkpoint’s cybersecurity products are used by critical government entities, such as the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Staff.
Anonim bir mesajdaki ipucundan yola çıktım ve maalesef yine bizi yönetenlerin İsrail'e dair ikiyüzlülüğünün belgelerine ulaştım. Bakanlıklarımız ve Genelkurmay, dijital güvenlik için İsrailli şirketin ürününü kullanıyor. Bu şirket, İsrail ordu ve istihbaratına doğrudan hizmet ve… pic.twitter.com/275WhvCTsW
— metin cihan (@metcihan) October 9, 2024
The list of institutions using Checkpoint’s products includes other government agencies such as the Board of Higher Education, the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), the State Personnel Administration (İŞKUR) and the Court of Accounts. The information was derived from procurement records, which indicate that the Israeli company’s technology is used for securing sensitive networks across various branches of the government.
Checkpoint, headquartered in Israel, is known for its collaborations with the Israeli military, with some of its executives previously serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The company’s history of supporting Israeli defense initiatives has placed it on boycott lists in Turkey, where public sentiment often runs high against Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Cihan drew attention to the contrast between Turkey’s public criticism of Israel and key government institutions relying on an Israeli company for cybersecurity solutions. Digital security experts caution that such reliance may expose sensitive government data to vulnerabilities or exploitation.
While President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and framed the country as a security threat, trade relations and indirect collaborations continue.
Cihan also pointed to specific officials in office during the procurement periods, such as former treasury and finance minister Berat Albayrak, the son-in-law of President Erdoğan. He accused the government of maintaining a duplicitous stance on relations with Israel, voicing criticism publicly while continuing collaboration behind the scenes.