It's official: the German police have confirmed that they have been a client - since at least 2019 - of the NSO Group, the company behind the controversial Pegasus software. This has been known for several years now to be the favorite gadget of the authorities of many countries, capable of interfering in the content of any smartphone. iOS and Android included.
The precise motivations of the police were not specified, however the functionality of the program would have been limited in order to prevent potential abuse. It is difficult to know what is really behind these statements, but according to the newspaperThe timelawyers looked into the issue before the transaction took place. Their hesitations will not have been enough.
Reactions
Konstantin von Notz, environmentalist MP, reacted by ensuring that he was witnessing a real “nightmare” for the rule of law. The politician demands a “full clarification” from the federal government, accompanied by details regarding “responsibility for purchasing and using spyware“. This indeed seems shared by both the police, the justice system and the executive at the moment.
For his part, the president of the Association of German Journalists Frank Überall is investigating whether the media could have been affected by Pegasus' activities. This is also a fear shared internationally, out of concern for security for sources but also for influence on state decisions.
The government knows!
If for many months the use of Pegasus remained an internal secret, a meeting finally informed the Ministry of the Interior and federal leaders before the information leaked to the press from a parliamentary source. . Among the media behind this discovery, we also find the dailySouth German newspaperand the two public audiovisual services WDR and NDR.
According to Martina Link, head of criminal investigation (BKA), the Trojan horse was primarily used in cases of terrorism and organized crime, but the names of the victims were obviously not revealed to the 'occasion. We still know that Germany regularly dismantlesmarketson the darknet, where counterfeit passports, hacked accounts and other drugs are sold.
i-nfo.fr - Official iPhon.fr app
By : Keleops AG
