Colombia prosecutors open investigation into Pegasus spy software purchase

6/9/2024 11:31

        Colombia's attorney general on Thursday said in a statement that it has opened an investigation into the alleged purchase and illegal use of Pegasus spy software.
        
        The decision comes after a televised broadcast from President Gustavo Petro, who said a unit in the country's national police bought the software off the books using $11 million in cash.
        
        Spyware technology, including Pegasus, has been repeatedly found to have been used to hack into the phones of civil society, political opposition and journalists in the last decade.
        
        Pegasus spyware in particular - built by Israeli firm NSO - was found on the phones of various people globally, including human rights defenders.