Governments Using Spyware Technology to Snoop On People and Hack Their Phones
Most of us have data and vital information stored online. Most of us are of the opinion that such cloud storage spaces and our phones are only ours, and hence, safe. However, around the world, we are now seeing a rise in cybercrimes. As the years roll, the number of people who find themselves under the threat of a cyberattack, spyware, or malware attack is on the rise. It isn’t just individuals who fall prey to such attacks, but countries as a whole. Several reports filed last year talking about how governments use spyware software to track their people’s movements and actions. Here’s an in-depth look at the use of spyware technology by various governmental bodies.
Whatsapp Files Suit
In October of last year, the world’s most popular messaging app Whatsapp filed a case against an Israeli tech company by the name NSO. This little known company was thought to be the one behind a well-planned and executed cyber-attacks on over 1,400 Whatsapp users. Most of the people who were attacked were human rights activists, diplomats, and journalists.
Stephanie Kirchgaessner, who at The Guardian investigated this piece worked with Citizen Lab, a spyware tracking company in Canada. After her studies, she concluded that NSO had helped the UAE, Morocco, Mexico, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, and even Saudi Arabia. The company, however, vehemently opposed the lawsuit stating that Whatsapp was drawing false parallels. NSO argued that it licensed Pegasus, their state-of-the-art spyware only to law-enforcement agencies and government bodies.
Spying: An International Game
The lawsuit began a new fight against unlawful and uncalled for surveillance by the State on its people. It tried to hold the global surveillance industry accountable for its actions, which are left entirely unregulated. There have been several cases before against the Israeli NSO by people who have fallen prey to their cyberattacks. However, Whatsapp was the first tech company to take the spyware firm to court.
How Spyware Infiltrates
The lawsuit states that NSO helps government agencies spy on residents through simple Whatsapp video calls. The scariest thing about this spyware software being that it does not require the person to attend the call to infiltrate their phone. The extremely sophisticated malware began spying even if the target missed the call, making them very dangerous. The software could intercept all forms of communication, access, and share photographs, and activate cameras and microphones without the target knowing. Furthermore, it also had the power to track locations and access different forms of data.
Who Are Their Targets
The Whatsapp lawsuit includes targets from over 20 different countries. The spyware singles out and targets religious figures, lawyers, activists, diplomats, politicians, and journalists. Also, NSO’s Pegasus could have been the software used to spy on writer Jamal Khashoggi who was killed by Saudi Arabia’s security services. His friend, Omar Abdulaziz, filed a lawsuit against the company for infecting his phone for the Saudis.
While activists have claimed that surveillance technology is taking over our lives over the years, they have had little success in implicating such firms. Also, no one has been able to come up with remedies or solutions for this problem, as such agencies keep intruding on our lives. The lawsuit filed in a District Court in California will be the first of many lawsuits against such agencies that hack our phones and enter our lives. Though NSO rejected the claims by stating their technology helps government agencies fight terrorism and violence, they will still need to prove their innocence in court. The company also claimed that using their software for any other purpose was a violation of the product contract.
Whatsapp received help from Canada’s Citizen Lab, which works out of the University of Toronto. This agency helps with tracking and identifying spyware technology users around the world. John Scott-Railton, who works as a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab, stated that such a lawsuit is unprecedented. Regarded as a milestone in the field of privacy and digital protection, this lawsuit may help other agencies to come forward with their findings. Such lawsuits will also prompt governments to enact stricter laws regarding data privacy. As we move into the future, it will be imperative that our data also enjoys the same security that our houses and other belongings do. Over time, we may witness more such allegations coming out into the public, helping countries frame their own data privacy policies. Until then, all of us will have to be careful, and try to prevent such snooping from happening to us.
Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.