Former CIA officer John Kiriakou has claimed that the agency can access microphones and cameras on phones and laptops, reviving concerns over government hacking tools and personal privacy.
Kiriakou made the claim during an interview with LADbible , where he was asked whether the CIA listens through phones and laptop cameras. He answered “yes” and pointed to the 2017 Vault 7 leak as evidence of the agency’s technical capabilities.
Kiriakou worked for the CIA from 1990 to 2004. After 9/11, he became the agency’s Chief of Counterterrorist Operations in Pakistan, according to LADbible.
His comments refer to Vault 7, a major 2017 WikiLeaks release that exposed CIA hacking tools and documents. AP reported that the leak revealed how the CIA hacked Apple and Android smartphones in overseas spying operations and worked on turning internet-connected televisions into listening devices.
Wired also reported at the time that the leaked material appeared to show CIA tools for exploiting iOS, Android, Windows systems, and Samsung smart TVs. Security experts cited by Wired said the material appeared legitimate, although WikiLeaks had redacted some technical details.
The available evidence does not prove that the CIA is watching ordinary users through their devices at scale.
The Vault 7 material mainly showed targeted hacking capabilities. SecurityWeek reported that the CIA refused to confirm the authenticity of the leaked documents but said its mission is to collect foreign intelligence overseas and that it is legally barred from spying on Americans. The agency also said its activities are subject to oversight under US law and the Constitution.
That distinction matters. The claim is not that every phone or laptop is constantly being monitored. The stronger supported point is that intelligence agencies have had tools capable of compromising specific devices under targeted operations.
The Vault 7 disclosures also created confusion about encrypted apps such as Signal and WhatsApp.
Wired reported that the leak did not show that the CIA had broken end-to-end encryption. Instead, experts said the risk came from compromising the device itself. If an attacker controls a phone, they can access texts, video, cameras, and microphones before or after encryption protects the message in transit.
In simple terms, encryption can still work, but a hacked phone can expose what a user sees, types, records, or hears.
The CIA can access your phone and laptop microphones and cameras, per former CIA officer John Kiriakou. pic.twitter.com/dMnrCTTqOn
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) May 21, 2026
The Vault 7 leak later led to one of the biggest criminal cases involving CIA classified information.
Former CIA software engineer Joshua Schulte was sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted over what the US government described as the biggest theft of classified information in CIA history. Prosecutors said the leak caused serious damage to US national security and CIA operations.
Kiriakou’s claim has gained attention because it matches long-standing concerns about device security.
Modern phones, laptops, smart TVs, and connected cars contain cameras, microphones, sensors, and network connections. If attackers gain deep access to such devices, they may be able to use them for surveillance.
However, the claim should be described carefully. Kiriakou says the CIA can access microphones and cameras on connected devices, while public evidence from Vault 7 shows that the agency had targeted hacking tools for phones, computers, and smart TVs. It does not prove routine mass surveillance of all users.
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