Debrief

Pegasus spyware: Reports of spying on governments and world leaders trigger uproar

A photographic illustration shows a smartphone with the website of Israel's NSO Group which features Pegasus spyware. PHOTO: AFP
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The revelation that a sophisticated cyber-surveillance tool developed by an Israeli company has allegedly been used to spy on government leaders, prominent journalists, democracy advocates, corruption fighters and lawyers around the world has triggered an uproar and a search for answers.

Dubbed Pegasus, the software has escalated concerns over government abuses against detractors, with as many as 50,000 mobile numbers from more than 50 countries targeted, according to a leaked list of surveillance targets.

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