The organization Forbidden Stories, together with 17 editorial offices, reveal the abuse in the use of spyware from the Israeli company NSO Group, Pegasus, which was allegedly used by states to target politicians, journalists, lawyers...

The Pegasus software has been used on behalf of ten states, and a list of over 50,000 phone numbers has been discovered. In France, more than 1,000 people would be concerned, targeted via Morocco. This software is only marketed to states or government agencies, with the approval of the Israeli government. Forbidden Stories accessed a list of more than 50,000 phone numbers, entered by a dozen NSO customers into the system that activates Pegasus. The organization then shared this list, which covers several years after 2016, with an international consortium formed with several media. Over several months, nearly 80 journalists analyzed these telephone numbers and identified many of their owners in about 50 countries. These revelations show that cybersurveillance is widespread, and that it concerns all types of countries. Mexico, India, Morocco — which is said to be heavily bugging French people — and Hungary are thus singled out.