Leaked records suggest human rights defenders and dissidents targeted for surveillance
A leak of phone data has revealed that human rights lawyers, activists, and dissidents worldwide were selected for potential surveillance via their mobile phones. The leaked records, which were obtained by the nonprofit organization Forbidden Stories, suggest that their phone numbers appeared in lists, indicating that they were prime candidates for invasive monitoring using the Pegasus spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO Group.
The records show that various government clients of NSO Group may have been targeting individuals critical of regimes, with the aim of gaining access to their private communications. The leak has drawn attention to the growing use of spyware to suppress dissent and human rights advocacy.
The data was shared with a consortium of media outlets, including The Guardian, as part of an investigation into the global reach and impact of Pegasus surveillance technology.
