Thread by @donath_anna

In the @EP_PegaInquiry we listened Chaim Gelfand the representative of #NSOGroup, the company that developed the dangerous cyber weapon, #Pegasus. His answers were absolutely inadequate.
1/13

Chaim Gelfand answers were contradictory about what customer data the #NSOGroup has seen. While the technology suggests that it could be anything: data collected by intelligence services as well as a list of those being watched. 2/13

I asked Chaim Gelfand the following questions:
Are there any plans to review previous contracts now that it has emerged in so many cases that #NSOGroup clients are misusing the cyber weapons they have purchased? 3/13

What tools does #NSOGroup have in place to prevent journalists from falling victim to programs such as the #Pegasus spyware?

Chaim Gelfand replied that if they’re aware of a misuse, they will investigate it. 4/13

But he also admitted that they cannot conduct a comprehensive investigation because they only see the targeted phone numbers. And only if the customer shows it to them, but if they do not, they say that they will stop cooperating. 5/13

However, the claim that they cannot carry out a comprehensive investigation contradicts his earlier claim that the #NSOGroup investigates abuses in detail. 6/13

Chaim Gelfand also didn’t provide any concrete evidence that contracts with customers who misused the #Pegasus cyber weapon had indeed been terminated. And the #NSOGroup representative has consistently evaded specific answers. 7/13

Chaim Gelfand, on the one hand, claims that they only sell their cyber weapons to states where rule of law is upheld. 8/13

On the other hand, the #NSOGroup representative refused to say on what basis they were satisfied that their partners met the rule of law criteria and assured that they would not use #Pegasus against civilians, journalists and opposition politicians. 9/13

This hearing is another strong argument for at least a temporary stop or ban on the use and sale of similar surveillance technologies. This is the only way to prevent further human rights abuses. 10/13

Chaim Gelfand himself agreed with this at the meeting, calling for a trade regulation of the cyber-weapons industry and the establishment of an independent body to monitor compliance. 11/13

Of course, many industries have already called for this when they realised it was inevitable. 12/13

After listening to the #NSOGroup representative, the ultimate aim of the PEGA Committee hasn’t changed: after vigorous EU cooperation to expose surveillance that threatens democracy, a European-level regulation should be adopted. 13/13