Israel’s use of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader highlights growing vulnerabilities in global surveillance systems, experts say.
Hundreds of millions of cameras, often connected to the internet and poorly secured, have become potential tools in wartime. Israeli forces reportedly exploited Tehran’s own cameras on Feb. 28 to track and target Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to sources familiar with the operation and a review of public and leaked data.
Cybersecurity analysts say authoritarian regimes face a paradox: the systems installed to monitor citizens and suppress dissent can expose leaders to external attacks. Conor Healy of IPVM said, “The infrastructure authoritarian states build to make their rule unassailable may be what makes their leaders most visible to the people trying to kill them.”
Security researchers warn that most cameras are easily hacked due to outdated software, weak passwords, and insider threats. AI has amplified the risk by allowing militaries to automatically analyze vast amounts of footage, identifying people, vehicles, and patterns in real time.
Israel’s use of the hacked footage extended beyond Khamenei. Intelligence reports indicate Tehran’s cameras had previously been exploited to track meetings of top security officials, including the Supreme National Security Council, allowing targeted strikes against leadership figures.
Analysts say the weaponization of surveillance cameras marks a shift in modern warfare, as governments increasingly realize that publicly installed infrastructure can be exploited. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group called the trend “a wake-up call” for states relying heavily on camera networks for control and security.
Gulf nations have taken steps to limit public access to footage from Iranian strikes, while Israel and others maintain heightened cybersecurity measures. Experts caution, however, that patching vulnerabilities is a continual challenge, describing the effort as a perpetual “whack-a-mole” game.
Ali Vaez said the rise in camera-targeting since the war began underscores the growing stakes for both authoritarian regimes and their adversaries in cyberspace.