Human rights lawyers around the world allegedly targeted with Israeli-made spyware

Human rights lawyers around the world are said to be targeted with Israel-made spyware

Published July 19, 2021

Human rights lawyers are among tens of thousands of people whose phones have allegedly been attacked with spyware from an Israeli company and sold to law enforcement agencies around the world, according to an extensive investigation.

Dozens of journalists coordinated by Forbidden stories with technical support from Amnesty International investigated a leak in 50,000 phone numbers believed to have been attacked using Pegasus software developed by the NSO group.

The Pegasus software is stealthily installed on victims’ phones and gives the attacker full access to the device’s messages, emails, media, microphones, cameras, calls and contacts.

In the coming week, will become media partners of The Pegasus Project – including The Guardian, Le Monde, Süddeutsche Zeitung and The Washington Post – will publish a series of reports revealing details of how world leaders, politicians, human rights activists and journalists have been selected as potential targets for spyware.

From the leaked data and their research, Forbidden Stories and its media partners have identified potential NSO customers in 11 countries: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Togo and the United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirates) Arab Emirates).

Eduardo Ferrer Mac-Gregor Poisot, a judge and former president of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, is one of the most prominent lawyers allegedly targeted in Mexico, The Guardian reported today.

Lawyer in London Rodney Dixon QC, whose top-class customers are Hatice Cengiz, Fiancee of the murdered Saudi dissident Jamal KhasoggiShe was reportedly targeted, as was Ms. Cengiz herself.

French human rights lawyer Joseph Breham was allegedly attacked multiple times in 2019, possibly by Morocco, as well as two lawyers who filed a lawsuit against NSO on behalf of the Saudi exile Omar Abdulaziz.

Not all phones affected by the software have been successfully compromised. According to Amnesty, it is impossible to know which attempts were successful without a forensic analysis of the phones in question.

Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said: “The Pegasus Project makes it clear that the NSO’s spyware is a weapon of choice for repressive governments that seek to silence journalists, attack activists and crack down on dissent, putting countless lives at risk .

“These revelations go beyond any claim by the NSO that such attacks are rare and result from the unscrupulous use of their technology. While the company claims its spyware is only used for legitimate criminal and terrorist investigations, it is clear that its technology facilitates systemic abuse. They paint a picture of legitimacy while benefiting from widespread human rights violations.

“Your actions clearly raise bigger questions about the widespread lack of regulation that has created a wild west with rampant abusive attacks on activists and journalists. Until this company and the entire industry can show that they are able to respect human rights, there must be an immediate moratorium on the export, sale, transfer and use of surveillance technology. “

In a statement, the NSO Group said the investigation was “full of false assumptions and unconfirmed theories that cast serious doubts on the reliability and interests of the sources.”

It added, “After reviewing their claims, we firmly deny the false allegations in their report. Their sources have given them information that is completely unfounded, as demonstrated by the lack of evidence to support many of their claims. “