Disturbing new discoveries, after initial revelations from the Israeli economic daily Calcalist, having prompted justice to open an investigation on January 20.
According to the newspaper, the use of the Pegasus spy program had become common to gather intelligence by the police in Israel.
This software from the Israeli company NSO was allegedly used, without judicial authorization, against Avner Netanyahu, one of the sons of the former Prime Minister, but also his media advisers, leading journalists and mayors.
Last week, police admitted to using "warrantless" computer spy technology, but did not directly name Pegasus.
"From ministers' cabinet directors, to journalists and businessmen: the mass Pegasus infection has affected everyone, from disability and Ethiopian rights activists, to corporate executives, to mayors and to those close to the Prime Minister", underlines the daily.
“Restore public trust”
Faced with these revelations, Israeli police commander Yaakov Shabtaï said in a statement that he had asked the Minister of Public Security, Omer Bar-Lev, to create an external and independent investigation in order to "restore public confidence". and “regulate the use of technology by the police”.
Last week, other Israeli media claimed that police were suspected of hacking into the phone of a key witness in Benjamin Netanyahu's trial.
Israeli cybersecurity group NSO, which owns Pegasus, has neither denied nor confirmed the sale of the software to the police, stressing that it was "in no way involved in the operation of the system once sold to government customers." ".
NSO found itself exposed in 2021 after investigations published by a consortium of 17 international media claiming that its software had been used to spy on the phones of journalists, politicians including heads of state, activists and leaders. business in different countries.
