The French National Information System Security Agency (ANSSI) confirmed that the devices of three French journalists were infected with the Israeli spyware Pegasus.
The iconic whistleblower Edward Snowden called this development “huge.”
According to ANSSI, traces of spyware from the Israeli NSO Group were found in the phone calls of Mediapart co-founder and president Edwy Plenel, Mediapart investigative reporter Lénaïg Bredoux, and a reporter from the French state-owned news channel France 24. world.
This marks the first time that official national authorities have confirmed the findings of the news media that reported on spyware last month. According to reports, ANSSI notified the Paris prosecutor of its findings.
Snowden’s 2013 leak revealed the scope of the U.S. surveillance program, describe Report as “huge” Arguing on Twitter, “If they do it in France, they will do it anywhere. Shut them down-Exploit transactions are prohibited.”
Huge: The official confirmed allegations that the Israeli hacker hire company NSO Group participated in a targeted attack on EU journalists. If they do it in France, they will do it anywhere. Close them-Exploit transactions are prohibited.https://t.co/gw2M9Je1nf
-Edward Snowden (@Snowden) August 3, 2021
France 24 An unnamed source told The Guardian that the company has “Very shocked” Through news and “I was shocked and angry that the reporter might be the subject of a spy.”
“We will not lie down and accept this. Legal action will be taken,” The source added.
Bredoux also accepted an interview with The Guardian, saying that ANSSI’s confirmation “Ending the idea that everything is a lie and fake news,” And is “We need evidence.”
A major investigation conducted by 17 news outlets last month stated that several foreign governments used Pegasus to monitor the president, human rights activists, journalists and others.
Le Monde reports that the spyware has been used in Morocco spy A phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron-an allegation against Morocco Refuse – And French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire Announce On Friday, state authorities are investigating whether he and other government officials are also under surveillance.
According to reports, Amnesty International and the French news media Forbidden Stories found Macron’s phone numbers in a database containing more than 50,000 phone numbers. These phone numbers are said to be “wishlist” People using Pegasus are monitored.
After the heavy news broke, the office of Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced that his country is “Taking allegations seriously” Then “Israel only issues network licenses to nation-states and is only used to respond to the needs of terrorism and crime.”
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