Once is not custom, Pegasus is still talking about him. An Israeli media dedicated to new technologies accuses the local police of having used the spyware for the purpose of surveillance of the population.
The Israeli police have, according to the media calcalist, used Pegasus software to remotely hack Israeli citizens for tracking and spying purposes. Among those targeted are politicians and activists, some known as opponents of Benjamin Netanyahu, others who have in the past called for the dismissal of the former prime minister. This Wednesday, January 19, the Israeli Ministry of Public Security promised an investigation following these allegations.
A serious breach of privacy, which the Israeli police deny
This spying campaign was allegedly carried out by the Israeli police without court approval and without seeking a search warrant or wiretapping authorization to engage in surveillance of the Pegasus victims. This version is strongly denied by the Israeli police, who claim that their surveillance activity “ is done in accordance with the law “.
The accusations are particularly serious, especially since we now know the capabilities of Pegasus, capable of taking control of a smartphone, accessing data, listening to calls and reading all messages from the device. . And that obviously worries the current Israeli authorities.
The Privacy Protection Authority refers to a ” serious breach of privacy “, if it were proven, while the comptroller of the State, Matanyahu Englman, promised to expand the device aimed at investigating the use made by the police of surveillance technologies.
In theory, the Israeli police cannot spy on its nationals
What does NSO Group, the sulphurous publisher of the Pegasus software, think of all this? The Israeli company does not confirm, nor does it deny, having sold its software to the local police. Recalling that she does not exploit the systems in possession of its customers “, the company explains that it is not involved in the operation of its system, once it is sold to governments and other organizations.
NSO Group also recalls that it only sells its products under license to avoid terrorist or criminal acts, ” pursuant to court orders and applicable laws in the countries that buy them. An argument that has already been put on the table when the scandal was revealed by Forbidden Stories last July.
Targeting Israeli citizens is in any case a surprising turn. Indeed, the Pegasus software is originally not authorized to use Israeli and American telephone numbers, even less without a warrant or authorization from the courts. Only the Israeli internal security service, the Shin Beth, is able in Israel to proceed with the hacking of a cell phone without going through the course of a court order.
Sources: calcalist
, The Guardian
, Engadget
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