Pegasus Spy Software and the Politics That Followed
Understanding the recent revelations, usage of pegasus, the underlying software, the politics and the implications of the same
The month of July was filled with the news of Pegasus across the globe. In the incidents that followed, the issue we saw a larger effort to exert politics and power. What is Pegasus? What is politics? Why did it grab attention? Should you be afraid?
What is Pegasus?
Pegasus is spyware developed by NSO Group, which is a private company in Israel. Spyware as the name suggests is computer software that can spy on our smartphones and computers. It has the potential to take away the data and send it to another target computer or server.
What type of data can be stolen? Phone media, Contacts, Whatsapp chats, Social media usage, Call recordings etc. This pretty much includes anything that is stored on the device.
NSO is named after its founders whose names start with N, S and O.
Pegasus from the information that is available doesn’t need any information of the target. A mere phone number of the target device is needed. It doesn’t require any mail, external hardware, Pendrive, hard disk or even an external chip. It also doesn't require any external message like an SMS or Email or Whatsapp message.
Also, we know that Pegasus can potentially take photos, access your camera, access your microphone and do a lot more. It is one of the most advanced spyware ever. The user of the device will not find out that there is spyware installed. The technology is so advanced that the software can attack your device even without having you noticing the same.
Pegasus and revelations of 2021
2021 was not the first time when such a spyware revelation happened. For a long time, NSO was involved in the sale of various spyware to multiple clients.
This year, it was a France based NGO called Forbidden Stories that took charge of this investigation. While Amnesty International supported the initiative and also in releasing this information to the outside world.
Reputed media sources like Le Monde, The Guardian, The Washington Post, etc. took charge of collaborating in identifying those directly or indirectly affected by the Pegasus Spyware. Over 50,000 is the estimated target of those who had already become victims of this or maybe potential targets in future.
Amnesty International released a Forensic Methodological report that indicates how many journalists were targeted and how to detect the presence of such spyware. This report claims of a ‘Zero Click’ attack where the user need not even click anything to install spyware on a given device. This report also includes details to check for such malware and spyware.
It was Jeff Bezos who was the first victim of the attack in 2018 where he was targeted by the Saudi Arabian government. The Guardian claimed that he received it via a WhatsApp text. A large data was found to have been used by the spyware and this was detected through forensic analysis. This is also not the first time such an incident happened. He had the privilege to have his phone sent for the check.
Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post journalist who has been said to have been killed inside the Saudi Embassy in Turkey is also said to have been targeted using the Pegasus software.
Pegasus: A global issue?
Is this is a local issue, a technology issue or a global issue or a political issue?
It is not a local issue as we can see that the spyware was to target people across the globe and that too my multiple clients. So the situation is pretty much global. Israel has been known for being technologically advanced and is expected to have some hand in this.
Can this issue affect more countries and more targets in future? Potentially yes, as we live in a globalised world, ideas spread easily. More such Spywares, tools will obviously increase in future. Also, there is a fight between governments on how to maintain order in the digital world.
Ever since encryption and security features had propped, the difficulties to snoop on people have dropped significantly. This has made intelligence agencies, law enforcement and police baffled. Pegasus can be of potential help in those cases. Historically we can this being used for a long time.
US intelligence claims that this is nasty software and it can be potentially used to spy on the entire world population.
Who used Pegasus?
The investigation shows 11 countries were the clients of NSO Group. These are Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Togo, and the United Arab Emirates.
After the big revelation this year, an unidentified employee of NSO Group was interviewed by NPR Radio service where he claimed that it is looking into blocking few clients. This also comes after the Israeli government conducts an investigation in NSO’s office in Herzeliya on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.
Who were the targets?
If you believe that hardline criminals, terrorists, human traffickers were targeted with this and snooped on. Then you are absolutely mistaken.
The recent investigation shows potential targets of the Pegasus software as Heads of State, members of Arab Royal Family, Journalists, Human Rights Activists, Political groups, etc.
Over 189 journalists from 20 countries and from reputed news organisations like Al Jazeera, CNN, the Financial Times, the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News and Le Monde.
Over 600 politicians across all these countries, 65 business executives and 85 human rights activists were targeted to be specific.
The revelations also prove that by using them for snooping for political reasons, it is clear that clients also violated NSO licensing and contract agreements.
Controversies and the politics: An Indian Context
A large number of targets of the pegasus were from India. Over 300 is the suspected list and the time frame for the same is from 2017 to 2019, perhaps the most politically charged period in the term in recent years. It was the report by The Wire on July 18th that triggered the debate on this in the country.
Rahul Gandhi, then President of Indian National Congress the Principal Opposition party in the country claims to have had his phone tapped. The list also includes his two close aides. This case in particular shows that his importance in Indian Politics is still relevant despite BJP calling him names and mocking him.
2017–2018 was perhaps the best time for the Congress party in recent years. It came close to BJP in Gujarat, won Punjab, and in 2018 it bagged three key states- Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. 2019 was the main year of General Elections which Congress couldn’t do better than last time. In 2018, we also had the Karnataka power struggle where Congress made an alliance with the JDS only to break it later.
Other victims of this snoop gate include Prashanth Kishor who is a well known political strategist and the one who dissociated himself from the BJP and Abhijith Banerjee who is the nephew of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. Prashant Kishor also claims that he was aware of the same and had changed few phones in the past.
The shocking revelation also releases the names of those who are closely aligned with the ruling BJP. This includes Rajasthan ex-CM V. Raje’s personal secretary, Minister Smriti Irani’s close aide, etc. Even the IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and MoS Prahlad Patel were not spared.
Apart from politicians, we had Virologist Gangadeep Kaur, former Election Commissioner Asok Lavasa, Pravin Thogadia of VHP, and 40 journalists.
There are also claims that it was PM Modi’s visit to Israel and meeting Benjamin Netanyahu that made deals between NSO and the Indian government. This remains speculation mainly coming from Israel.
Ever since Parliament met for the monsoon session, a lot of time was wasted in the disruption of the house by the Opposition as well as the adamant behaviour of the Government. The opposition demanded a special discussion on the same and also that the PM and HM should directly respond to these allegations.
Both of these was directly denied by the government and the BJP took a stance that such an incident never happened and these allegations are meant only to malign the Government and Indian Democracy. All efforts were done to brush the dust under the carpet.
Shashi Tharoor was the head of the IT parliamentary panel but the BJP decided to boycott the meeting called by him. He told the media in an interview that it is very hard to convince the Indian Public because it's not an issue affecting them but the Congress party in a way believes that this might be an issue to target the government.
Read about the 2019 elections
It was Nitish Kumar of JDU, BJP’s ally in Bihar that took a stance ie. to have an investigation. This is also a sign of some resentment within the NDA, and JDU shrinking its foothold and stake in the state. Till now the government hasn’t acknowledged that the phones of any person were tapped with pegasus and says that there is no proof for the same.
The Editors Guild Of India comprising the journalists who were affected by the same have approached Supreme Court in demand for SIT probe. The main concerns raised is the Right to Life and the Right to Privacy and also how the lives of journalists who always work in dangerous environments for the people at large. Such steps were taken by the government is said to be as part of cracking down on dissent and those journalists who question people in power.
As per a recent survey, only 15% of the Indian Population has understood the issue of Pegasus and they believe it was something that should have been avoided. The report also makes us believe that more Indians get to know about it then hatred against the government will grow. So for BJP keeping this issue away from the discussion will be the primary focus.
The Supreme court in the recent hearing by the CJI said that allegations were serious and if the reports are true then actions will have to be taken. At least that we need some basic investigation to check into these given allegations.
Indian Ministry of Defence denies any contract between the NSO group and the ministry thus confirming the government stance as nothing like this ever happened. On 16th August, the Government offers an Expert probe panel but didn’t answer regarding pegasus usage. At the same time categorically claims that investigation by Amnesty and Media organisations is unwarranted.
Controversies and the politics: A Global Context
No one could ever miss French President Emmanuel Macron on the list perhaps it was implanted from Morocco. He changed his phone later on and also had a phone call with Israeli PM over the issue. Apart from that two journalists from Le Monde were also said to have been targeted. Le Monde then released a report flagging 14 ministers in the French Cabinet that could have been under potential surveillance. Morocco has refuted the allegations.
The other popular victims include President Baram Salih of Iraq, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, and also prime ministers of Pakistan, Egypt and Morocco. The Hungarian and Algerian authorities have also initiated investigations into the same in their countries.
Edward Snowden the face of the cyber world, said that he has multiple concerns with such spyware and calls on the sale of this should stop internationally.
Is Pegasus illegal?
Pegasus is a purely licensed spyware and the NSO group has been known to sell Spywares to various clients. As discussed the NSO group only sells Pegasus software to governments and no one else. NSO group defends itself in the use of Pegasus that, is used to target terrorists and other illegal activities.
It also refutes recent investigations saying that over 50,000 numbers weren’t spied on by Pegasus. It also says that takes into concern Human Rights and also has the full support of the Israeli Government.
The editor of Haaretz Newspaper said that this is an “Offensive cyber Industry” to advance diplomatic goals.
The Way Ahead
Mere collection and analysis of data are not illegal, it is absolutely necessary. Those cases where data is stolen for spying on the people, for political use, targeting political opponents should be condemned at all costs.
Article 21 of the Indian Constitution mandates the Right to Life and the Right to Privacy. Each person cannot be deprived of dignity. Stealing something about someone unless there is a proper procedure laid down by the law is unacceptable. The cases of the use of such software must be restricted otherwise it will spread like wildfire and snooping on ordinary people will be the norm.
From the revelations, it is understood that there has been rampant misuse and this misuse is what needs to be stopped. The misuse has targeted those questioning those in power and those who raise their voice to keep us safe and make laws.
There is nothing we ourselves can do at the individual level to protect from attacks like Pegasus. Keep changing phones might be effective but not a sustainable way to prevent such spying cases.
Why politics? No field is free of politics today, science, engineering, technology, the law is all driven by politics. Such issues do need a political factor in solving those problems especially those which have political consequences. This requires a global level political consensus and this issue cannot be solved without politics.
Ultimate Credits- Washington Post Report
I have started a Telegram Channel which will contain the record of all my articles. Follow my personal blog for behind the scenes and informative content. Join medium paid membership by clicking here.
