Ankara: Turkish security authorities have announced the arrest of the director of a software company and several employees on charges related to cyber espionage. The operation targeted Aydo Yazilim, a prominent software service provider based in Ankara, and resulted in the detention of the company’s director along with five employees.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the arrests took place on Wednesday morning, as part of a coordinated effort between a cyber security force, the Gendarmerie General Command, and the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) to combat cyber espionage activities. The operation involved the confiscation of computers, mobile phones, and other digital materials from the homes and workplaces of the suspects.

Security sources have revealed that Aydo Yazilim had reportedly added a special query interface to some of its union software, enabling unauthorized access to information about non-union members. The software was also capable of retrieving data and information that had previously leaked online from various sources.

Investigations have further uncovered that the system could access identity information and population registry data using Turkish identity numbers. The databases were found to contain a broad range of personal information, including records of individuals under 18 years of age. This discovery has prompted further investigation into the data’s intended use and the potential involvement of other entities.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the scope of the system’s use, particularly focusing on the unions that may have utilized the software and the purposes for which the data was processed. The investigation may expand as new evidence emerges from the seized digital materials.