Catalan Leaders Allege Political Spying: The Pegasus Controversy Unveiled
The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force, has confirmed a disturbing series of cyber attacks on the phones of prominent separatist leaders. Between 2015 and 2020, the devices of former Catalan National Assembly (ANC) president Jordi Sànchez were targeted up to 19 times by the controversial Pegasus software, allegedly created by the Israeli company NSO. This revelation surfaced amid ongoing investigations led by a Barcelona judge responding to a complaint lodged by Sànchez, his successor Elisenda Paluzie, and former ANC official Sonia Urpí regarding these intrusions.
The testimony presented before the judge revealed that the attacks on Sànchez's phone coincided with critical moments in his political career, notably during periods when he was granted prison leave to participate in the formation of his political party. The investigation of their mobile devices has substantiated claims of unauthorized surveillance, with a report from the Mossos corroborating findings from Citizen Lab and Amnesty International, two organizations that had previously exposed the extensive spying on pro-independence activists.
According to Sànchez, the combined reports indicated 26 attacks, while the Mossos focused on a single device, confirming 19 intrusions. The majority of these occurred during a politically charged timeframe, notably between September 2015 and October 2017, just before Sànchez's preventive detention related to the independence movement.
Forensic analysis confirmed that information was extracted from Sànchez’s phone, though specifics about the data have not been disclosed. Sànchez identified key moments of intrusion surrounding major independence events, including the 1 October referendum, as well as the formation of Junts, the party he was instrumental in establishing.
Paluzie raised concerns over previous testimonies given by Félix Sanz Roldán, the former director of Spain's National Intelligence Centre (CNI), who did not acknowledge certain intrusions, particularly one from 2015. This lack of recognition raises questions about the legal endorsement of such surveillance actions. Furthermore, the attacks on Paluzie's mobile were executed through various methods, including targeting links in SMS messages and using 'zero-click' attacks that don't require user interaction.
Responding to these allegations, the Spanish government, represented by Minister Bolaños, stated that they neither authorized nor had knowledge of the alleged eavesdropping. The current administration is characterized by its commitment to rule of law, contrasting with the practices of its predecessors.
As investigations continue, the judge has requested international cooperation from Israel and Luxembourg to ascertain the specifics surrounding the sale of Pegasus software. Catalan leaders insist on accountability, as Sànchez calls for an inquiry into who authorized these invasions of privacy and the legal justifications behind them.
In light of these events, Sànchez criticizes the attacks as targeted harassment against individuals with certain political beliefs, vowing to pursue legal remedies through both national and European courts until a resolution is reached. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the potential implications of these surveillance practices on democracy and political expression in Catalonia and beyond.
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