Spyware used to target critics of Mexican government

PROMINENT Mexican journalists, activists and lawyers who have been outspoken critics of their government have been targets of spyware that government agencies acquired under the guise of fighting terrorism, a new New York Times investigation has revealed.

The report says at least three federal agencies have bought spyware from an Israeli company for a sum of $80 million since 2011.

One piece of software – Pegasus – can hack a smartphone and acquire calls, text messages and emails as well as control the device’s microphone and camera.

Lawyers working on the case of 43 Ayotzinapa students who disappeared in 2014, have accused the government of negligence and an attempted cover-up of the incident, received fake messages with a link to a story related to the case.

According to the report, such text messages functioned to open a phone up to the spyware.

“We have always suspected they spied on us and listened to us,” Mario Patron, one of the lawyers involved in the case told the New York Times.

“But to have evidence that we are victims of actual surveillance, it confirms that we are under threat.

“And that the government is willing to use illegal measures to try and stop us.”

Journalist Carmen Aristegui, one of Mexico’s most prominent journalists who is critical of the government and has covered corruption schemes involving President Enrique Peña Nieto and his wife in high-profile reports, also received hundreds of messages asking her to click on a link.

“It’s been about getting revenge,” Aristegui said.