A joint investigation by seventeen media organizations found that spyware sold to governments by Israeli firm NSO Group was used to hack (WaPo) journalists, human rights activists, and business executives around the world. The Pegasus spyware is officially intended for use against terrorists and major criminals.
The investigation examined a leaked list of phone numbers and found through forensic investigation that the spyware targeted at least thirty-seven smartphones, including those of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée and his son (Haaretz). The media consortium identified at least ten governments thought to be NSO customers (Guardian), including Hungary, India, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. It says more revelations about Pegasus are forthcoming. NSO characterized the investigation as exaggerated (WaPo) and said it does not operate the spyware licensed to clients.
“For too long, national approaches to technological questions have been ad hoc, poorly coordinated, and left to technology experts to sort out. But in today’s competitive global environment, technology is too important to be left to the technologists,”
“If Russia did this, [the United States would] be talking about new sanctions. Why do we tolerate it from an ally?” the Atlantic Council’s Emma Ashford tweets.
