Colombian President Gustavo Petro calls for an investigation into the $11 million purchase of Pegasus spyware, citing concerns over potential misuse against opposition figures.
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| Colombia’s President Petro seeks answers on a controversial $11 million Pegasus spyware deal, raising fears of unauthorized political surveillance. Symbolic image |
Bogota, Colombia September 05, 2024:
On Wednesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged the attorney general’s office to investigate the $11 million purchase of Pegasus spy software. The purchase, which was made during the previous administration, has raised concerns that the software could have been used to spy on opposition politicians.
Pegasus, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, is notorious for its use in hacking the phones of civil society members, political opposition, and journalists worldwide. The software has been found on the phones of numerous human rights defenders across the globe.
During a televised address, President Petro questioned the legality and transparency of the transaction, which reportedly involved large sums of cash being flown out of the country to Israel for the purchase. “How does $11 million in cash leave the country on a plane, or two, from state offices ... to go to Israel to buy software that spies on cell phones, private communications, politics, perhaps for months?” Petro asked, citing documentation from the Information and Analysis Unit (UIAF).
The president also raised concerns about whether he or other politicians might have been targeted by the spyware and under what legal justification this could have occurred. He has called on the director of the UIAF and the head of the police to hand over all relevant documents and the software to the attorney general’s office to ensure transparency and the protection of citizens’ rights.
“We have to get to the bottom of the matter,” Petro emphasized, underscoring the importance of a thorough investigation.