NYT journalist hacked with Pegasus after reporting on previous hacking attempts (citizenlab.ca)

Article summary

A New York Times journalist, Ben Hubbard, was repeatedly hacked with Pegasus spyware over a three-year period while reporting on Saudi Arabia. The hacking occurred after Hubbard reported on previous hacking attempts, highlighting the dissonance between NSO Group's stated concerns for human rights and the reality of their actions. The Citizen Lab's forensic analysis found evidence of Pegasus infections on Hubbard's iPhones in 2020 and 2021. The hacking of a prominent American journalist raises concerns about press freedom and the use of spyware to target journalists.

Main themes

• NSO Group and Pegasus spyware
• Journalist hacking and press freedom
• Regulation of spyware exports
• Government surveillance and espionage
• Cybersecurity and hacking laws
• International cooperation and espionage

What commenters say

• The sale of hacking software is not well-regulated, making it easy for governments to acquire and hoard zero-days.
• NSO Group's claims of not having information on targets and not being able to find out post-sale are not credible.
• The US government's ability to prevent software distribution is limited by the First Amendment, but it can restrict import and export of software.
• Regulation of spyware exports is necessary to limit surveillance tech like Pegasus, but current regulations may not be effective.
• The distinction between selling a tool for hacking and selling a tool for committing a crime is crucial in determining legality.
• Governments may work around laws restricting surveillance by making deals with other countries to spy on each other's citizens.
• The use of spyware to hack journalists is a direct threat to press freedom worldwide and contributes to a growing chilling climate for investigative journalism.