Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the PFLP, says they handed over the body of an Israeli captive to the Israeli occupation forces in implementation of the clauses of the ceasefire agreement.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia
US Vice President JD Vance: There is currently no security infrastructure in place to ensure the disarmament of Hamas
Israeli occupation forces said that "ceasefire in Gaza begins to be re-implemented."
Israeli media: 'Israel' to halt entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza until further notice.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One woman was killed and several children were injured as a result of Israeli bombing of displaced Gazans' tents in the Mawasi area of ​​Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza: An Israeli airstrike targeted the eastern areas of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Pegasus returns to Mexico as concerns grow among dissidents

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Oct 2022 12:53
  • 6 Shares
5 Min Read

Researchers at Citizen Lab uncover the phones of Mexican activists and journalists that have been infected by Pegasus, despite the Mexican president having pledged to end the history of spying on opponents.

  • x
  • Pegasus infected phones of activists and journalists in Mexico in 2019, 2020, and 2021
    Pegasus infected phones of activists and journalists in Mexico in 2019, 2020, and 2021

Despite the Mexican government's pledges claiming it will cease exploiting the contentious Pegasus spyware, an investigation on Sunday discovered that at least three human rights investigators' phones in Mexico had been breached by Israeli NSO's spyware Pegasus.

Manuel Lopez Obrador, who assumed office in 2018, swore to quit using the technology after a scandal emerged over its usage under his predecessor's presidency.

What is Pegasus? How does it function?

As a spyware, Pegasus, which has the capability to infect billions of phones running either iOS or Android operating systems, silently infiltrates your phone, takes hold of your data, and turns your device into a 24/7 surveillance unit.

It can copy all your messages, harvest your photos, and record your calls. It might even infiltrate your camera and microphone and secretly film you and eavesdrop on your conversations. It can also potentially pinpoint your location, anytime, anywhere.

For governments and spying agencies, the software is quite the dream come true, but for dissidents, journalists, and the general populace, Pegasus is a nightmare. 

The mastermind behind this hacking software is none other than the Israeli firm NSO Group.

Mexico, Pegasus, and human rights activists

Two journalists and a human rights activist's phones were examined by researchers at Citizen Lab, a digital watchdog group at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. They discovered that the smartphones had been infected with Pegasus in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Related News

Spain supports Morocco against Israeli Pegasus use accusations: EFE

Israeli Predator-maker Intellexa in Athens raided after sales ban

The three victims documented human rights violations allegedly committed by the Mexican armed forces and disclosed their findings in a report published by the Mexican group for digital rights advocacy known as R3D.

Requests for a response from the defense ministry and Lopez Obrador's team were not immediately fulfilled.

Unfolding since 2017

In 2021, Lopez Obrador declared that Mexico had "no longer any relation" with Mexico and at the time, Mexico's chief of financial crimes asserted that the government had not entered into any agreements with the firms that provided the software.

Citizen Lab had previously discovered the usage of the Pegasus spyware by the Mexican government during the administration of former President Enrique Pena Nieto in 2017. This raised concerns about the lengths to which government agents and officials would go in order to monitor activists, journalists, and politicians, especially those who were critical of the administration.

The future of Pegasus in Mexico

The new findings by Citizen Lab call for questioning Mexico's current president's intentions and allegations with regard to Pegasus. In other words, it raised questions as to whether or not Obrador has lived up to his pledge to put an end to a history of spying on opponents in Mexico.

Furthermore, as a result of the most recent discoveries, concerns regarding the difficulties faced by journalists and human rights advocates in a nation where they have frequently come under assault, grow.

Citizen Lab findings

According to Citizen Lab and R3D, Pegasus targeted activist Raymundo Ramos in August and September 2020. Ramos assisted victims of alleged military violations in the hostile northern border state of Tamaulipas.

Earlier, during an interview with Reuters, Ramos had noted that he has expected that the government was spying on him for a long time now. Since he knew of the findings, Ramos said he had been taking stricter measures to protect his privacy. That included having more in-person conversations and leaving his mobile phone in a separate location.

"I am on high alert," Ramos told Reuters, "This isn't just any hacker ... Someone has set their sights on you."

In October and November of 2019 as well as in December of 2020, Pegasus targeted journalist Ricardo Raphael's phone, according to the findings. Raphael is a journalist for the news agencies Proceso and Milenio. He is also a host on channel ADN40.

They also discovered one infected phone in 2021 belonging to a journalist at the Animal Politico news agency. The journalist preferred to remain anonymous.

A victim of Pegasus

Pegasus has also been used as a tool for murder. According to The Guardian, Cecilio Pineda Birto, a 38-year-old freelance reporter in Mexico, was shot dead on March 2, 2017.  Prior to the incident, Pineda had received a number of anonymous death threats. At about the same time, his mobile phone number was selected as a possible target for surveillance by a Mexican client of the NSO Group spyware company. His attackers knew exactly where to find him, although his exact whereabouts were known to no one. 

Read more: Pegasus, "Israel's" Trojan Horse

  • Pegasus spyware scandal
  • Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
  • "Israel"
  • Mexico
  • Pegasus project
  • NSO Group
  • R3D
  • Citizen Lab
  • Pegasus

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, killing seven Palestinians.

Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, kills seven Palestinians

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK blocks release of documents on secretive Lammy-Sa’ar meeting.
Politics

UK blocks release of documents on secret Lammy-Sa’ar meeting

Colombia slams Trump’s drug accusation, defends sovereignty
Politics

Colombia slams Trump’s incendiary drug claims, defends sovereignty

The abuse was detailed in Giuffre's memoir "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice." (AP)
Politics

Epstein victim recounts choking, sexual assault by 'well-known PM'

The US Secret Service discovered a hunting stand near the airport President Donald Trump uses in Florida. (US Secret Service)
Politics

FBI probes hunting stand with sightline to Trump’s Air Force One exit

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS