Pegasus: Police used Pegasus software within law, investigation finds
The business daily Calcalist claimed in early February that the police had remotely taken control of the smartphones of Israeli citizens via this spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO, without a warrant.
JOEL SAGET AFP/Archivos
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The Israeli daily
Calcalist
revealed earlier this month large-scale cyber-surveillance outside of any legal framework, directed against Israeli citizens.
This deeply shocked public opinion, and caused a state scandal.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
Following these cyber espionage revelations, in early February, the Israeli Prime Minister promised “
a response
”.
Because the Pegasus software should not “
be used against Israeli citizens
”, estimated then Naftali Bennett.
An investigation was immediately opened, led by the Deputy Attorney General of the Hebrew State, Amit Merari.
With her team of investigators, she concludes: “
Yes, the Pegasus software was used to hack the phone of an Israeli citizen.
No, this was not done outside any legal framework.
The police did obtain a warrant before proceeding with the tapping.
»
The police strike back
These findings therefore partially contradict the
Calcalist
revelations
.
According to this Israeli daily, the police were carrying out massive cyber surveillance, without any warrant.
Reinforced by the results of this investigation, the Israeli police counter-attack: “
Calcalist
injured the Israeli police and its 32,000 policemen […] someone is going to have to pay for this.
Calcalist
announces that it wants to “
examine
again the conclusions (...) published
” in the daily.
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Israel
Pegasus
Naftali Bennett
Cybercriminality
Justice