Politician who investigated spyware abuses had his phone hacked with Pegasus spyware

Summary

A European politician investigating spyware abuses had his phone hacked with Pegasus spyware. Security researchers confirmed the attack, which occurred in 2022-2023. The politician plans to sue NSO Group.

Key Takeaways

1. A European politician investigating spyware abuses had his phone hacked with Pegasus spyware.
2. The confirmed phone hacking of Greek journalist and former politician Stelios Kouloglou during 2022 and 2023 marks the first time that a member of the European Parliament’s PEGA committee, tasked with investigating phone spyware attacks by European governments, has been publicly identified as a victim of spyware.
3. Kouloglou said he plans to sue NSO Group, the Israeli-headquartered spyware maker.

Statement Breakdown

• Claimed Facts: 60% of statements the article presents as facts
• Opinions: 30% of statements classified as editorial or subjective
• Claims: 10% of statements surfaced for additional reader evaluation

Credibility & Bias Reasoning

Credibility assessment: The article relies on security researchers and the politician's direct account. While NSO Group and the European Commission did not comment, the information is presented factually. The use of a 'zero-click' exploit and a previously discovered flaw adds technical credibility.

Bias assessment: Investigative Tech Journalism. The article focuses on the technical details of a spyware attack and its implications for a politician investigating such abuses. It highlights the actions of NSO Group and the lack of comment from involved parties, framing the narrative around governmental overreach and privacy concerns.

Note: This article presents findings from security researchers and a politician's account of a spyware attack. While credible, it's important to note the lack of comment from NSO Group and the European Commission.

Credibility flag: Investigative, Caution Advised

Claimed Facts (8)

• This is a direct statement of fact confirmed by researchers.
• This provides specific details about the researchers and the victim, presented as factual findings.
• This states the findings of the researchers regarding the attribution and method of attack.
• This details the timing and technical method of the hacking, attributed to Citizen Lab's report.
• This explains the technical nature of the exploit as a factual characteristic.
• This describes the technical vulnerability exploited, presented as a factual detail.
• This links the timing of the hack to specific events and discussions, presented as a factual correlation.
• This provides further factual details about subsequent hacking incidents and their timing.

Opinions (8)

• This is a direct quote expressing the politician's subjective judgment.
• This is a quote expressing a strong opinion and a call to action from an unnamed lawmaker.
• This is an interpretation and suggestion about the motive behind the attack, presented as a possibility rather than a confirmed fact.
• This is a rhetorical statement posing questions and framing the issue, reflecting the author's perspective.
• This describes the politician's emotional state, which is subjective.
• This is a quote expressing the personal impact and emotional distress of the hacking.
• This states the politician's stated motivation for sharing his story, which is a personal belief.
• This is a general statement of belief and opinion from the politician.

Claims (2)

• While the reuse of an email address is a fact, the implication of NSO Group's authorization is an inference that cannot be definitively proven without NSO Group's confirmation.
• This is speculative; while the timing is noted, the claim that the spyware operators *may have* listened to ambient audio is an unconfirmed possibility.

Key Sources

• Zack Whittaker — Author
• The Citizen Lab — Digital rights unit at the University of Toronto
• Stelios Kouloglou — Greek journalist and former politician, Member of European Parliament's PEGA committee
• Unnamed European Lawmaker — Serving European lawmaker
• NSO Group — Spyware maker
• European Commission — European Union executive body
• Apple — Technology company