Status: 07/19/2021 1:52 p.m.
The Pegasus spying software was used against journalists and members of the opposition. Politicians and associations react indignantly. Hungarian opposition politicians are calling for an investigation, while France has already announced a review.
After reports about the use of spyware against activists and reporters, German journalist associations have called for clarification and countermeasures. The chairman of the German Association of Journalists, Frank Überall, spoke of an “unprecedented surveillance scandal”. Secret services and security authorities would have to provide information on whether the notorious Pegasus software from the Israeli company NSO had also been used against German journalists.
Hofmann: EU missed the chance to regulate
The chairman of the German Union of Journalists (dju), Monique Hofmann, called for restrictions on the export of surveillance technology. “Authoritarian states use Pegasus to silence critical and opposition voices,” she stressed. “Spy software must not be supplied to states in which human rights are violated again and again.” It was only this year that the European Union missed the chance of such a strong regulation with the reform of the dual-use regulation.
A journalist consortium, in which NDR, WDR, “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and “Die Zeit” are also involved, published research according to which traces of attacks with the Pegasus software of the Israeli company NSO were found on the smartphones of journalists, human rights activists, their family members and business people were.
Journalists’ sources no longer protected
Pegasus infiltrates smartphones, spies out personal data and can also activate the phone’s camera and microphone. In the case of journalists, hackers can track communications with sources. NSO countered – as in previous allegations – that the software was “only sold to law enforcement agencies and secret services by audited governments with the sole aim of saving human lives by preventing crime and acts of terrorism.”
The EU and the German government emphasize freedom of the press
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called for a review of the revelations about the worldwide spying on journalists, activists and opposition members. “If it’s true, then it’s completely unacceptable,” von der Leyen told journalists in Prague. “A free press is one of the cornerstones of the European Union.”
The deputy spokeswoman for the federal government, Martina Fietz, also emphasized the importance of freedom of the press. A free press and a free radio are “of particular importance for the functioning of a democratic state and a democratic society”.
A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior said that laws and regulations apply in Germany, “and all measures taken by the investigative authorities must be based on them.” He also pointed out that a judge’s reservation applies to special investigative measures, such as telecommunications surveillance.
Sharp criticism from the Greens
The deputy leader of the Greens in the Bundestag, Konstantin von Notz, spoke in the NDR of an “ultimate espionage attack” and “massive violations of the rule of law”. He called it “a serious and problematic process”. “If unjust states use this technology to research opposition members and journalists and eventually lead them into the torture room, then you can see how big the problem is and how badly this technology can be misused.” One then has to discuss possible consequences just as much as when EU states like Hungary use such software.
Von Notz called for strict regulation of the handling of espionage programs – for example through international agreements or export bans.
France wants to investigate allegations
France’s government spokesman Gabriel Attal reacted astonished and indignant to the revelations. “This is of course an extremely shocking fact,” said Attal to the channel Franceinfo. He announced – not detailed – investigations. “We are very attached to freedom of the press,” he added.
Demands for an investigation also come from Hungary, where journalists and opposition activists were spied on using the software. Three members of Parliament’s National Security Committee requested a special session to consult government agencies about their possible involvement in the surveillance activities.
The chairman of the committee, János Stummer, an MP for the right-wing opposition party Jobbik, said that surveillance as revealed by journalists is not legal in a constitutional state. The committee wanted to question security authorities and secret services about the allegations.
Stummer pointed out, however, that a majority of the committee members are MPs of the ruling party who could prevent an investigation with a boycott. “Our view is that to remain silent would essentially be an admission that the government is indeed involved in this matter,” said Stummer.