Spanish Judge Drops Investigation into Israeli Spyware Case Amid Lack of Cooperation from Israel
A Spanish court has once again dropped its investigation into the use of Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to target senior government officials, citing a chronic lack of cooperation from the Israeli authorities. This is the second time the case has been shelved due to Israel's failure to respond to requests for information.
The investigation began in 2022 after it was revealed that the phones of Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and other top ministers had been infected with Pegasus software, which is available only to state agencies. The use of the spyware led to the dismissal of Spain's spy chief and a government admission of "shortcomings" within the country's national intelligence centre.
However, despite receiving new information from French authorities about the use of Pegasus in other countries, Judge José Luis Calama has decided to drop the investigation due to Israel's lack of cooperation. The judge stated that the Israeli authorities' failure to respond to requests for information had impeded the investigation and violated international legal agreements between states.
The decision is seen as a significant blow to efforts to hold Israel accountable for its alleged role in using spyware against politicians and activists worldwide. NSO Group, the manufacturer of Pegasus software, has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it does not operate the technology and cannot know who its customers target with it.
The case has sparked international concern about the use of spyware by governments and corporations. In 2020, a joint investigation by The Guardian and El País revealed that senior Catalan politicians had been warned their mobile phones had been targeted using Pegasus spyware. Since then, numerous cases have emerged of individuals and groups being spied on with Pegasus software.
The lack of cooperation from Israel in this case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to the use of advanced surveillance technologies. As one expert noted, "the principle of good faith between countries is fundamental to international relations... When one country refuses to cooperate, it can disrupt the balance inherent in international cooperation."
A Spanish court has once again dropped its investigation into the use of Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to target senior government officials, citing a chronic lack of cooperation from the Israeli authorities. This is the second time the case has been shelved due to Israel's failure to respond to requests for information.
The investigation began in 2022 after it was revealed that the phones of Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and other top ministers had been infected with Pegasus software, which is available only to state agencies. The use of the spyware led to the dismissal of Spain's spy chief and a government admission of "shortcomings" within the country's national intelligence centre.
However, despite receiving new information from French authorities about the use of Pegasus in other countries, Judge José Luis Calama has decided to drop the investigation due to Israel's lack of cooperation. The judge stated that the Israeli authorities' failure to respond to requests for information had impeded the investigation and violated international legal agreements between states.
The decision is seen as a significant blow to efforts to hold Israel accountable for its alleged role in using spyware against politicians and activists worldwide. NSO Group, the manufacturer of Pegasus software, has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it does not operate the technology and cannot know who its customers target with it.
The case has sparked international concern about the use of spyware by governments and corporations. In 2020, a joint investigation by The Guardian and El País revealed that senior Catalan politicians had been warned their mobile phones had been targeted using Pegasus spyware. Since then, numerous cases have emerged of individuals and groups being spied on with Pegasus software.
The lack of cooperation from Israel in this case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to the use of advanced surveillance technologies. As one expert noted, "the principle of good faith between countries is fundamental to international relations... When one country refuses to cooperate, it can disrupt the balance inherent in international cooperation."
this is getting old, like, I'm all for transparency and accountability, but seriously, how many times do we need to see Israel shut down an investigation because they're too busy hiding something? 
And what's up with NSO Group not taking responsibility, just like a bunch of corporate lawyer nonsense 
it's like they're trying to fly under the radar (pun intended). Anyway, I'm all for looking into this spyware stuff, we need to know who's behind it and why. Can't have countries just using tech to spy on each other... that's like living in a bad James Bond movie 
. I mean, can you imagine if countries treated each other the same way they treat individuals? It's all about perspective and double standards 
. The international community needs to keep pushing for transparency and accountability, even if it means going against some powerful interests 
.
I was hoping justice would be served for those targeted by pegasus 
it's like israel doesn't care about human rights 
with impunity 
who knows what else they're hiding behind closed doors 
we need more transparency not less 
... like what's the point of even having an investigation if they're not gonna get any co-op from Israel? 
I don't get why countries can't just be transparent about what they're doing. It's not that hard, right? 
Not good, trust me. So yeah, let's keep pushing for more transparency and accountability from our governments. We need to make sure they're not using these powerful tools to silence people. 
NO SERIOUSLY, A CHRONIC LACK OF COOPERATION FROM ISRAEL HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE INVESTIGATORS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. I MEAN WHO NEEDS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN YOU'VE GOT ADVANCED SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AT YOUR DISPOSAL?!?! 
. It's not like it's some newfangled tool that's hard to understand 
. Just be open about what you're doing and why.
.
) and stricter regulations on the use of advanced surveillance tech 
. Anything less is just letting these countries get away with their dirty tricks 
it's not like Israel's being secretive out of fear or something (although let's be real they probably are 
). and what really gets my goat is that this is basically the second time the investigation has been dropped due to Israel's lack of cooperation... so we're just gonna keep doing the same thing over and over until we get tired of it? 
that Spain dropped the investigation AGAIN 
:
in sales from the sale of Pegasus software in just one year.
. But at some point, we gotta hold these governments accountable 
. We need to know who's using this tech and why 
. This case is more than just about Israel - it's about the global implications of unchecked surveillance 
.
. Maybe we'll finally get some real action taken on this 
!
I don't think this is right. A Spanish court should not just drop an investigation because Israel isn't being cooperative. Like, what even is the point of having a legal system if no one is going to follow through on it? 
. What's even more concerning is that this lack of transparency and accountability can lead to a slippery slope where governments and corporations feel like they can get away with anything as long as they have the resources to hide it. It's gotta be addressed, you know?
you know what's weird? i was just thinking about this the other day... have you ever noticed how some video games are way more realistic than real life? like, in these new battle royale games, the graphics are insane! but meanwhile, our governments are still using ancient technology to spy on each other 
. it's wild how we can make virtual enemies that are more convincing than the people we're trying to protect ourselves from 
. i guess what i'm saying is, let's focus on updating our spyware... and maybe get some better graphics in the process 
it's a real concern that needs to be taken seriously.
. But instead, they're just playing dumb and refusing to share info 
. I'm all for transparency and good faith between countries, but when one side isn't pulling their weight, it's hard to see how this can be resolved 
. Maybe someone needs to take them to task over this 
.
. And what really gets me is that this is the second time Israel's done this