The comments came following reports of the use of military-grade Pegasus spyware from Israel-based NSO Group. The spyware can be covertly installed on phones running most versions of iOS and Android OS, after which vast amounts of information can be harvested from the device including private messages.
Alarmingly, it can also be used to activate and record using a device’s microphone and camera. In August 2020, Israeli media reported that the software had been sold for hundreds of millions of dollars to the UAE and other Gulf States for surveillance of critical politicians, journalists, and activists.
Last month, it was revealed that Pegasus is still being used widely to monitor and intimidate human rights supporters and political dissidents.
International human rights law requires countries to ensure protections against illegal surveillance, invasion of privacy, and threats to fundamental civil liberties such as freedom of expression and assembly.
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