After Julian Assange entered Ecuador’s London embassy in 2012, Ecuador spent at least $5 million on security and surveillance under operations known as Guest and Hotel. UC Global, led by David Morales, installed CCTV systems and, in December 2017, added microphones, including devices concealed in decorations, fire extinguishers, and the women’s bathroom. Employees recorded Assange’s daily activities, visitors, medical information, and meetings with lawyers; visitors’ passports and electronic devices were reportedly copied and documented. A 2017 email attributed the monitoring to suspicions that Assange was working for Russian intelligence, although Morales said the operation was ordered by Ecuador and denied working for the CIA.
El País reported the recordings in June 2019, after which Spain’s National High Court opened proceedings against Morales over alleged violations of privacy and attorney-client privilege, misappropriation, bribery, and money laundering. Former employees testified in 2020 that material was passed through contacts linked to Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands security operation and allegedly provided to the CIA, claims contested by Morales and still litigated. In August 2022, Assange associates sued the CIA and former director Mike Pompeo; in December 2023, Judge John Koeltl allowed claims concerning possible access to phone contents to proceed while dismissing other claims. The case remains a major test of legal-privilege protections in intelligence-linked surveillance.
