Today, we released our interactive map, which shows dozens of journalists and activists around the world who were selected for targeting with sophisticated spyware from Israeli company NSO Group. 1/ cdn.occrp.org/projects/proje…
From Azerbaijan to Morocco, from India to Mexico, NSO Group’s software has been used to spy on people who could not possibly be legitimate targets — especially since the Israeli company claims its software is meant only to go after criminals and terrorists. 2/
If you missed yesterday’s big release, here’s our overview story about the #PegasusProject, which details how the company’s spyware has been abused in country after country. 3/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
This FAQ explains the data the project is based on, places NSO Group’s responses in context, and answers other questions about the collaboration. 4/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
What does NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware do? How does it work? Can it infect a phone even without the user having to click on a malicious link? Here’s our explainer about the software. 5/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
This story explains the use of Pegasus spyware in Azerbaijan. The phone of OCCRP investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova was compromised. In the autocratic Caucasian country, leaks of personal data are often used to sexually shame dissidents. 6/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
Today, we revealed that Pegasus was used to spy on the daughter of Rwandan dissident Paul Rusesabagina.
Last year, Rusesabagina was tricked into boarding a plane that took him to Rwanda, where he faces charges of financing terrorist activities. 7/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
Here’s an account from Fatima Movlamli, a young Azerbaijani activist whose phone was breached. "When I was 16, I wanted to work as an actress," she said. "Now that dream has come true — I’m on stage. But not in the way I imagined." 8/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
Here’s another from Szabolcs Panyi, a journalist with @direkt36, an OCCRP partner.
"The fact that I was among those surveilled made me feel outraged, ashamed, but also somewhat proud." 9/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
In response to #PegasusProject, NSO Group denied that the leaked data came from them. But CEO Shalev Hulio said they are investigating alleged abuses. "I believe we need to check," he said. "If we check, we will find that some of this will be true." 10/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
More stories coming — keep an eye on our #PegasusProject page.
NEW: Emmanuel Macron 🇫🇷, Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦, and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev 🇰🇿 are just some of the world leaders selected for targeting with Pegasus spyware.
Some were selected by foreign powers, others by their own governments.
ANALYSIS: The #PegasusProject has revealed systematic abuses of cutting-edge surveillance software. Here’s the story of the Israeli company at the center of the affair — and the industry it’s part of. 1/ occrp.org/en/the-pegasus…
NSO Group has specialized in breaking into mobile phones since its creation in 2010. But while it may be the best-known "cyber intelligence" firm, it’s far from alone. The for-profit spyware industry ballooned after Edward @Snowden revealed the NSA’s mass surveillance in 2013. 2/
"When Snowden happened, people were like, we don’t have that tech yet," @jsrailton of @CitizenLab told the #PegasusProject. "A lot of countries were like, how do we get the good stuff?" 3/
NEW: Pegasus software made by Israeli firm NSO Group was used to spy on the daughter of Rwandan dissident Paul Rusesabagina, whose actions inspired the film Hotel Rwanda.
He has helped set up a coalition of opposition groups against Rwanda’s gov't while living in exile. Last year, he was tricked into boarding a plane that took him to Rwanda, where he faces charges of financing terrorist activities. 2/
Carine Kanimba, Rusesabagina’s daughter, who lives in Belgium, has spearheaded an international campaign to free him.
But we reveal that, as she lobbied leaders in Europe, her phone was infected with Pegasus multiple times. 3/
NSO Group says its software, called Pegasus, is meant only to help fight crime and terrorism, and claims to hold its government clients to that requirement.
Our reporting explodes that narrative. 2/
Heads of state, independent journalists, and a Mexican mother searching for the truth behind her son’s disappearance — all appeared on a leaked list NSO Group clients appear to have used for targeting.
NEW: The CEO of Equatorial Guinea’s state oil company allegedly skimmed petroleum profits. He’s also linked to luxury properties around the world. 1/ occrp.org/en/investigati…
Antonio Oburu Ondu rose to power after marrying the niece of Equatorial Guinea’s first lady. By 2015, the couple had started amassing a global property portfolio with homes from Houston to Accra. 2/
Oburu used shell companies to hide his ownership of luxury properties. One of those firms allegedly received millions of dollars as part of a profit skimming scheme. 3/
THREAD: Our Russian partner @wwwproektmedia is the latest independent media outlet in the country to come under intense pressure from the authorities — it has just been declared an "undesirable organization.” #PressFreedom 1/ reuters.com/business/retai…
This designation is designed to destroy Proekt’s ability to do their investigative work. Being "undesirable" means you’re considered a national security threat. And it becomes illegal even to quote you. 2/
The authorities also raided the home of Proekt’s editor-in-chief, Roman Badanin. He and seven colleagues were declared "foreign agents." 3/ occrp.org/en/daily/14744…