Governments Misuse Pegasus to Spy on Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, and Political Figures

The European Union's data protection watchdog (EDPS) has called for a ban on the controversial Pegasus spyware developed by Israel's NSO Group, as reported by Reuters.

The EDPS stated that the use of Pegasus could lead to an "unprecedented level of impunity that could interfere with the most intimate aspects of our daily lives." Israel is under global pressure, accused of allowing foreign governments to misuse Pegasus to spy on human rights defenders, journalists, and political figures.

NSO has claimed it cannot confirm or deny information regarding existing or potential customers of Pegasus. The company stated it does not operate the system for state clients post-sale and does not participate in its operations in any way.

"A ban on the creation and deployment of Pegasus spyware in the EU would be a more effective protection of our fundamental rights and freedoms," said the EDPS. "Discussions about tools like Pegasus should focus not only on the technology's use but also on the importance we place on the right to privacy." Last year, an investigation published by 17 media organizations, led by the Paris-based Forbidden Stories consortium, revealed that the spyware had been used globally to breach the smartphones of journalists, government officials, and human rights defenders.