Israel: Investigation to see if police used spyware to hack activists, civil servants, politicians and other high profile figures. Cyber is a new battlefield but in this case at a local level with the instigators being police. Also Ian’s Quick Take “The Winter Olympics in a Divided World. Source: GZERO

GZERO

Israeli spying scandal. Israel’s government has vowed to investigate new bombshell claims that the police used spyware to hack activists, civil servants, politicians, and other high-profile public figures, including witnesses in the ongoing corruption trial of former PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Pegasus software, developed by the Israeli firm NSO, has been the target of much scrutiny in recent months after it was revealed that several authoritarian governments bought the software – with the permission of Israel’s Defense Ministry – to crack down on dissidents and political opponents. (Pegasus has since been blacklisted in the US.)

PM Naftali Bennett said Monday that the allegations were very serious and will be thoroughly investigated. Still, some Israelis fear that Netanyahu, who was ousted last year, might use the revelation to stall his corruption trial. Bibi’s son (also a hacking victim) and lawyers have already launched such a campaign.

Ian’s Quick Take

The Winter Olympics in a divided world.