Israel will “look into” NSO Pegasus spyware allegations

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israel’s National Security Council has announced it is “looking into” allegations that Israeli-made NSO Pegasus spyware has been used to illegally spy on a range of people including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ynet News reported Tuesday.

An international investigation published by 17 media organizations on Sunday claimed Pegasus software was used in successful and attempted hacks on the smartphones of journalists, human rights activists, and government officials, Ynet News said. The investigation was led by France-based non-profit journalism group Forbidden Stories.

NSO has dismissed the results of the Forbidden Stories investigation as being “full of wrong assumptions and uncorroborated theories.” According to NSO, the Pegasus software is only intended to be used by governments to fight terrorism and crime, Ynet News reports.

However, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told reporters on Wednesday that Macron has called for investigations into the Pegasus spyware allegations. The French President was reportedly on a list of potential targets for surveillance on behalf of Morocco, Ynet News said.

A Ynet News source with first-hand knowledge of the Israel taskforce looking into the case has said it is “doubtful” that new restrictions would be placed on Pegasus exports. “The objective is to find out what happened, to look into this issue and learn lessons,” the source said.

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