WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Thursday during a Facebook Live session that his organization would provide technology companies with exclusive access to CIA hacking tools designed to patch software flaws and make products more secure.
“The problem is, with limited information, about the details of how those cyber weapons operate, there is a limited ability to try and produce security fixes,” Assange said before mentioning iPhones, Samsung televisions and Google phones as examples of brands that could benefit.
“I want to announce today that after considering what we think is the best way to proceed and hearing these calls from some of the manufacturers, we have decided to work with them,” he said. “So that fixes can be developed and pushed out, so people can be secured.”
Earlier this week, WikiLeaks published documents describing secret CIA hacking tools and portions of computer code. It did not publish all the information that would be needed to accomplish cyber exploits against phones, computers and other products, such as smart TVs.
Assange said that once the material is “effectively disarmed,” he would publish additional details about what has been occurring.
The social media reaction has been mixed. One user tweeted:, “Julian Assange is a hero without a doubt. Speaking the truth. Another wrote: “The fact that I see most in the GOP praising Julian Assange instead wanting to see that despicable monster in jail is very telling.”
Check out the video above.