Israeli Spyware Poses Problems

By Rachel Max ‘24
    Israeli spyware developer the NSO Group has recently faced allegations that the Israeli Police have been abusing one of their programs, named Pegasus, to spy on citizens. Thus far, these claims have been denied, and very little concrete evidence has been put forth, yet were serious enough to warrant an internal investigation.

Pegasus’ mythological name comes from its ability to “fly through the air,” like the mythical winged horse, and install itself onto cell phones. The program can download without anyone clicking any links or having their phone handled, and once it is in the phone, Pegasus can read text messages, track calls, collect passwords, access location, use the devices’ camera and microphone and view any data collected by another app.
    The spyware's intended use was to monitor criminals and terrorists, yet it has not always been used as such. The NSO Group claims to have 45 clients, but the actual number is likely much higher, as the company is known to lend Pegasus out to other businesses for use in more illegal ways.  
    Allegations began in August of 2016, when the public discovered Pegasus after it failed to discreetly install itself onto a human rights activist’s phone, which garnered significant media coverage and increased public fears over spyware.
    Continued allegations form three distinct questions, the first being whether the Israeli Police possess Pegasus, and have made use of it before. Police officers have confirmed this, saying that they purchased the system and have used it to some capacity. 
The second is if police have used Pegasus, without proper warrants, to illegally spy on high-profile citizens, like politicians accused of corruption, activists that organize demonstrations or witnesses to various court trials. Given the extensive amount of time since the accusation was made, it is likely the NSO group will never release a statement regarding the claims of personal investigation. 
Finally, activists claim the police were targeting a group of about 30 people, including top government officials. While this has some basis in fact, as officers admitted to targeting three individuals, only one of them was actually bugged. However, an official investigation was unable to confirm that any named person was being targeted.
    Daniel Shapiro ‘23 commented, “I think it is a scary, but not unexpected revelation which we need to keep a close eye on.”
Shortly after the initial accusation, Israel Police Chief Yaakov Shabtai came forward to discuss the allegations. Shabtai explained that “the Israel Police have been falsely accused—serious allegations that have severely damaged not only public confidence in the police, but in all law enforcement agencies.”
He additionally promised the police will “prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Israel Police did not act and do not act in violation of the law and I promise that this will continue to be the case…if anyone, no matter when, no matter their rank or role, abused police abilities for any wrongdoing, I will personally make sure that they answer for it.”
Yet considering no conclusive evidence has been provided by either side, and both are adamant that they are telling the truth, until more information comes to light, it is difficult to come to a conclusion on the claims against Pegasus.