What's Happening?
A Spanish judge has decided to shelve the investigation into the alleged use of Pegasus spyware to hack the phones of Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and several ministers. The decision was made due
to a lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities, which prevented the judge from determining whether the cyberattacks were carried out using the Pegasus software. This marks the second time the case has been shelved since its inception in 2021. The investigation initially gained momentum with information from a French probe into espionage targeting various public figures and government officials using the same software. However, the judge concluded that the new insights were insufficient to advance the investigation, as the software does not leave traces that could confirm the nature of the data accessed.
Why It's Important?
The shelving of this investigation highlights the challenges faced by international legal systems in dealing with cyber espionage and the use of sophisticated spyware like Pegasus. The inability to gather sufficient evidence due to non-cooperation from foreign entities underscores the complexities of cross-border cybercrime investigations. This case also raises concerns about the accountability of companies that develop and sell such software, as well as the potential for misuse by state and non-state actors. The decision may impact future diplomatic relations and legal collaborations between countries dealing with similar cyber threats.
