Why a lot of people are getting hacked with government spyware
12 days ago
- #spyware
- #human-rights
- #surveillance
- Government spyware is often justified as targeting only serious criminals and terrorists, but evidence shows widespread abuse against journalists, activists, and politicians.
- Spyware systems allow governments to surveil multiple targets easily, with pricing based on the number of concurrent targets, leading to overuse.
- Countries with questionable human rights records frequently purchase spyware with high target capacities, resulting in broad surveillance beyond intended scopes.
- Spyware like NSO’s Pegasus and Paragon’s Graphite simplifies targeting, making it easy for governments to surveil anyone they choose.
- Lack of transparency and accountability enables governments to use spyware brazenly without fear of consequences.
- Some efforts have been made to curb spyware abuse, including sanctions, investigations, and diplomatic initiatives, but the market remains robust.