Geneva (AFP)
UN experts on Thursday called for an international moratorium on the sale of surveillance technologies pending the establishment of a regulatory framework guaranteeing human rights, after the recent wiretapping scandal related to Israeli software Pegasus.
In mid-July, an investigation, published by a consortium of 17 international media, revealed that the Pegasus software, designed by the Israeli company NSO Group, had made it possible to spy on the numbers of at least 180 journalists, 600 men. and women politicians, 85 human rights activists or 65 business leaders from different countries.
"We are deeply concerned that very sophisticated intrusive tools are being used to monitor, intimidate and silence human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents," UN experts said, quoted in a statement. communicated.
"Such practices violate the rights to freedom of expression, privacy and liberty, can endanger the lives of hundreds of people, endanger media freedom and undermine democracy, peace, security and international cooperation, ”they added.
The communiqué is signed by three UN Special Rapporteurs, including the one on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, and the Human Rights Working Group. man and transnational corporations and other businesses.
"In recent years, we have repeatedly sounded the alarm bells about the danger that surveillance technologies pose to human rights. Once again, we urge the international community to develop a strong regulatory framework to prevent, mitigate and repair the negative impact of surveillance technologies on human rights and, in the meantime, adopt a moratorium on their sale and transfer, ”they said.
The journalistic work on Pegasus is based on a list of 50,000 phone numbers selected by NSO clients since 2016, obtained by the organization Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International.
50,000 phone numbers possibly spied on by Pegasus Omar KAMAL AFP / Archives
UN experts urge Israel "to fully disclose the steps it has taken to review NSO's export transactions in light of its own human rights obligations."
"It is the duty of States to verify that companies like the NSO Group do not sell or transfer technologies to States and entities that may use them to violate human rights, or do not enter into contracts with them" , they insist.
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