WikiLeaks yesterday announced the start of a new project as it released the first leaked files it said detailed the extent to which surveillance companies were selling information obtained by monitoring people's mobile phones and computers.
Launching the "Spy Files", WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said: "The reality is, intelligence contractors are selling right now to countries across the world mass surveillance systems for all those products."
He said the release of the documents - 287 yesterday, to be followed by further releases into next year - uncovered a practice which, although lawful, was leading towards a "totalitarian surveillance state".
Assange said: "Who has an iPhone? Who has a BlackBerry? Who uses Gmail? Well, you're all screwed."
The project is being jointly undertaken by the group and website spyfiles.org and Privacy International among others, and media organisations from six countries.
