China News Service, July 19. According to a number of foreign media reports, the Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group is suspected of using spyware to monitor journalists, business executives and politicians around the world, and is related to a list of 50,000 mobile phone numbers. .
Screenshot of CNN report.
According to a joint investigation report by more than ten international media, including the Washington Post, the Guardian and Le Monde, the NSO Group and the spyware Pegasus developed by it were used to monitor journalists And human rights advocates.
According to reports, the leaked list contains more than 50,000 mobile phone numbers, and it is believed that the holders of these numbers are people who have been regarded as interested parties by NSO Group customers since 2016.
The Washington Post stated that the list was shared by the Paris-based non-profit journalist organization Taboo Stories and Amnesty International.
According to the report, the number of people actually targeted or monitored is unknown.
The report pointed out that under the joint investigation of the international media, the identities of the holders of more than 1,000 numbers have been determined, including several members of the Arab royal family, at least 65 business executives, 85 human rights workers, 189 journalists, and more than 600. Political figures and government officials such as heads of state, prime ministers and cabinet ministers, these may be monitored in more than 50 countries around the world.
The Guardian reported that the number holders on the list include AFP, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The New York Times, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Monde, Economic Journalists from scholars, Reuters and other media.
NSO Group is located in an office building in Israel.
The numbers on the list are concentrated in 10 countries, of which Mexico is the most, and also includes Bahrain, Hungary, India, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
The Indian investigative news website The Wire stated that there are 300 mobile phone numbers on the list from India. The holders include government ministers, opposition politicians, journalists, scientists, and human rights activists, including mainstream newspapers such as Hindustan Times, Indians, and India Express. The media has more than 40 Indian journalists and the two founding editors of The Wire.
The Washington Post also pointed out that the investigation confirmed that the mobile device with 37 numbers on the list was successfully hacked by Pegasus, including two women closely related to Saudi journalist Khashoggi.
However, the NSO Group has issued a statement denying the "taboo story" report, alleging that the report is "full of false assumptions and unsubstantiated claims," claiming that the company "only sells its technology to censored government agencies" for the purpose of preventing crime and Acts of terror to save lives.