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"Pegasus" surveillance software: The digital super bug

2022-07-18T16:11:31.356Z


The »Pegasus« project revealed a year ago how governments used spyware from Israel to eavesdrop on politicians, journalists and activists. Since then, more and more cases have become known – most recently in Thailand.


Enlarge image

Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain and "Pegasus" victim.

Photo: John Thys/AP

It is well known that the Moroccan royal family does not particularly appreciate criticism.

In this respect, the revelations of the »Pegasus« project were King Mohammed VI.

probably more than just an eyesore.

A year ago, media such as the »Zeit«, the »Süddeutsche Zeitung«, »Le Monde« or the »Guardian« published joint research that Morocco apparently used the »Pegasus« surveillance software in order not only to target critics in their own country, but also to target high-profile politicians in France – right up to President Emmanuel Macron.

To date, Morocco has denied the reports and has taken legal action against both the French and German media - the annoying publications should disappear again.

In Germany, the Hamburg law firm Nesselhauf supports the autocratic regime.

And this despite the fact that there are repeated reports of torture and ill-treatment from the country.

Attacks on politicians, journalists, activists

The work of the German press lawyers for Morocco has probably been lucrative so far, but unsuccessful: The Hamburg district court recently dismissed complaints against the "Zeit" and the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" as unfounded.

The verdict's reasoning states that the kingdom does not come into question as "the object of an insult".

The verdict is the latest in a series of defeats for NSO, the Israeli maker of the Pegasus spyware, and its customers.

Defamation lawsuits against »Le Monde«, »Radio France«, »Mediapart«, »Forbidden Stories« and Amnesty International were also dismissed in the first instance.

The research not only brought the Moroccan regime into focus, but also highlighted the largely unregulated billion-euro business with surveillance software.

The international project was coordinated by the Parisian non-profit organization Forbidden Stories.

The human rights organization Amnesty International also supported the journalists.

They found that a number of states used the spy software to spy on heads of state and government in other countries.

Journalists, human rights activists and members of the opposition were also affected by the attacks.

The results were in stark contrast to the self-portrayal of the company NSO, which likes to point out that its own technology is only used to hunt down pedophiles and terrorists.

However, the reports showed, for example, that the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered by the Saudi regime, was also attacked with "Pegasus".

The Emir of Dubai, on the other hand, apparently even used the digital weapon in the custody dispute against his ex-wife and also had British lawyers spied on.

The mobile phone as a bug

Technically, espionage is easy once »Pegasus« is available to the monitors.

Once installed on a smartphone, the software allows the cell phone to be remotely controlled unnoticed – it becomes a bug, can record conversations, secretly turn on the camera and read everything that is on the screen, including encrypted communication.

All of this happens in secret, invisible to the user of the device.

NSO has been claiming for years that government agencies are the only customers.

The assertion cannot be verified independently.

Experts estimate that at least 45 countries around the world are currently using the software.

The customers are by no means just dictatorships.

"Almost all European governments use our tools," NSO boss Shalev Hulio once told the New Yorker magazine.

It is largely unclear which governments these are.

  • In connection with the publications of the "Pegasus" project, Polish and Hungarian authorities admitted the use.

    According to the "Pegasus" researchers, the authorities in the EU country of Hungary apparently did not shy away from wiretapping journalists.

    The competent state agency later simply announced that no law had been broken.

  • The use of the tool is also considered secure in Belgium and Spain. In Spain, traces of surveillance were found on the phones of Catalan politicians - including several EU parliamentarians - which led to the dismissal of Spain's intelligence chief.

  • The iPhone manufacturer Apple recently warned individual customers of NSO attacks.

    The US company even provides a particularly secure version of the iOS operating system for endangered users.

The BKA and BND are also said to be using the spy software

And in Germany?

"Pegasus" was apparently also used in this country.

The federal government refused to admit this for a long time.

In the meantime, however, the use by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is considered secured.

The government does not want to reveal details to members of the Bundestag, even under the seal of secrecy.

This would be opposed to "predominant interests of the state".

This approach is completely unacceptable, criticizes Green Party deputy Konstantin von Notz, who chairs the parliamentary control body responsible for secret services.



At EU level, parliamentarians set up their own committee of inquiry.

He is scheduled to submit a report by 2023.

The first sessions already showed that the number of mobile phones attacked with »Pegasus« software is far higher than previously assumed.

An NSO employee revealed to EU politicians that "an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 targets a year" are spied out with the help of the technology worldwide.

The revelations have drastic consequences for the manufacturer.

In India, the Supreme Court ordered an investigation, and the US government even imposed sanctions on the Israeli company.

NSO can no longer even order a basic iPhone in the US.

What should hit the company even harder: In addition to Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple has now also sued the company for alleged spying attacks.

In the event of a defeat, NSO face huge penalties.

The company, based in Herzliya near Tel Aviv, is therefore trying to limit the damage.

It became known from those close to the company that numerous customers had been parted with, including an EU member.

The contract with the United Arab Emirates was also terminated.

Meanwhile, new cases of alleged misuse of NSO technology become known almost every week.

Just in time for the anniversary of the publication, the non-governmental organizations DigitalReach and iLaw as well as the research institute Citizen Lab reported that they had found traces of "Pegasus" on the mobile phones of several activists and academics in Thailand.

In a first statement, NSO spoke of "unverifiable allegations" by politically motivated organizations.

Further legal disputes will follow.

A number of journalists who were wiretapped with the software are now complaining, including the French online medium Mediapart and the Hungarian investigative reporter Szabolcs Panyi.

The organization »Reporters Without Borders« even turned their cases to the United Nations.

The pressure on the "Pegasus" developer NSO will probably continue to grow.

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-07-18

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