The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) seized some cargo from Flipper Zero in Brazil. The portable device does not have approval from the regulatory body and can be used for “unlawful purposes, or to facilitate a crime or misdemeanor”.
According to Anatel, for reasons like this, the product cannot be officially marketed in the country. The device is a radio frequency emitter, has a simple look and a monochrome screen, in addition to a compact size.
The Flipper Zero has common functions of other similar devices, such as an infrared transmitter, RFID, Bluetooth and NFC, and is also used for hardware and cybersecurity research, in addition to illicit purposes, as highlighted by Anatel.
The gadget, in fact, has features that could facilitate the practice of a hacker attack, since it is used to explore and correct vulnerabilities in security systems, hence the concern of the Brazilian regulatory agency.
The product is relatively successful on the short video platform TikTok when used in the production of several, some even showing some of the “evil” functions of the device. However, experts criticize Anatel for an alleged “arbitrary decision”.
The prohibition of this device and other similar tools can make the work of cybersecurity professionals more difficult, since this type of equipment also helps to identify and correct possible breaches and prevent potential hacker invasions.
A Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) defende que the use of network testing tools should not be “criminalized”. The organization asks Anatel to reconsider the decision, as these are “crucial devices of legitimate use” in digital security activities.