Phones of Five Incumbent French Ministers Were Targeted by Pegasus Spyware, Report Says
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The software was developed by an Israeli technology firm, NSO Group. The company claims that its product is used by governments worldwide solely to combat terrorism and crime. However, an investigation conducted by 17 outlets says that Pegasus was used by countries to spy on each other as well as it own citizens.
The phones of at least five incumbent French ministers were infected with the Pegasus spyware between 2019 and 2020, French investigative journal Mediapart has reported, citing its sources. According to the outlet, a recent investigation by the French government revealed that the cellphones of five officials bore traces of the snooping software.
Those affected are Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister of Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Authorities Jacqueline Gourault, Minister of Agriculture Julien Denormandie, Minister Delegate for Housing and ex-Minister of Ecological Transition Emmanuelle Wargon, and Minister of the Overseas Sébastien Lecornu. Mediapart reported that the phone of at least one member of President Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic team too contained traces of Pegagus.
Those affected are Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister of Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Authorities Jacqueline Gourault, Minister of Agriculture Julien Denormandie, Minister Delegate for Housing and ex-Minister of Ecological Transition Emmanuelle Wargon, and Minister of the Overseas Sébastien Lecornu. Mediapart reported that the phone of at least one member of President Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic team too contained traces of Pegagus.
The investigative journal did not reveal which country spied on the said officials, but previously French newspaper Le Monde wrote that Moroccan intelligence used the software to spy on President Macron and his cabinet. Rabat has categorically denied the report.
Élysée Palace as well as the said ministers declined to comment on the issue.
On 17 July, outlets led by the Paris-based non-profit journalism group Forbidden Stories published a joint investigation which revealed that Pegasus software was used to target thousands of people around the world, including leaders of states, opposition politicians, journalists, and human rights activists. Among the individuals targeted were Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, King of Morocco Mohammed VI, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iraqi President Barham Salih, and President of the European Council Charles Michel.
Overall, the spyware was reportedly used to target 50,000 phone numbers across the globe. NSO Group, which developed the software, described the investigative report as full of "wrong assumptions" and "uncorroborated theories". It stressed that its product is used solely to snoop on the phones of criminals and terrorists. The firm said it had painstakingly chosen its customers and turned down offers from around 90 countries. NSO Group refused to reveal its clients and the nations it refused to do business with.
Since the revelation there have been reports which seem to corroborate the joint investigation by 17 outlets. Earlier this month, it was reported that three US intelligence officers helped an Emirati cyber group spy on local human rights activist using various spyware programmes, including Pegasus.
Élysée Palace as well as the said ministers declined to comment on the issue.
On 17 July, outlets led by the Paris-based non-profit journalism group Forbidden Stories published a joint investigation which revealed that Pegasus software was used to target thousands of people around the world, including leaders of states, opposition politicians, journalists, and human rights activists. Among the individuals targeted were Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, King of Morocco Mohammed VI, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iraqi President Barham Salih, and President of the European Council Charles Michel.
Overall, the spyware was reportedly used to target 50,000 phone numbers across the globe. NSO Group, which developed the software, described the investigative report as full of "wrong assumptions" and "uncorroborated theories". It stressed that its product is used solely to snoop on the phones of criminals and terrorists. The firm said it had painstakingly chosen its customers and turned down offers from around 90 countries. NSO Group refused to reveal its clients and the nations it refused to do business with.
Since the revelation there have been reports which seem to corroborate the joint investigation by 17 outlets. Earlier this month, it was reported that three US intelligence officers helped an Emirati cyber group spy on local human rights activist using various spyware programmes, including Pegasus.
