Leak points to lawyers and activists globally being at risk
A leak of phone data suggests human rights lawyers, activists and dissidents across the globe were selected as candidates for invasive surveillance through their phones.
Their mobile phone numbers appeared in leaked records, indicating they were selected by government clients of the Israeli NSO Group, which developed the Pegasus spyware.
The records were obtained by the non-profit organisation Forbidden Stories and shared with a consortium of media outlets including the Guardian.
NSO has repeatedly said Pegasus, which can access all data on a device, and turn it into an audio or video recorder, is meant for use only against terrorists and serious criminals.
The selection of activists, dissidents and journalists by NSO clients paints a different picture, though one that campaigners will say was grimly predictable given the tool
