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Israel’s Trojan Horse: How Ghana’s Pegasus Purchase Ignites Privacy Concerns Across Africa
- The acquisition of Pegasus spyware by Ghana from Israel's NSO Group has ignited privacy concerns and raised questions about democracy and digital surveillance in Africa.
- The clandestine $5.5 million deal involved Israeli NSO Group, Infralocks Development Limited (IDL), and Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA), leading to legal repercussions.
- Pegasus spyware is a potent tool capable of infiltrating smartphones and accessing calls, messages, photos, microphone, camera, GPS location, and more without user interaction.
- The NSO Group, founded by former Unit 8200 members, initially aimed to combat terrorism but faced backlash for allegations of targeting journalists and activists worldwide.
- The Pegasus Project exposed the misuse of spyware on activists, journalists, and heads of state, prompting calls for regulating cyber-surveillance technology.
- Ghana's High Court ruled the Pegasus purchase illegal in 2020, revealing concerns over misuse and violating privacy rights, sparking debates on national security vs. individual privacy.
- Israel's digital diplomacy in Africa through surveillance technology sales raises ethical dilemmas and questions regarding human rights implications.
- Legal actions by Apple, WhatsApp, and international entities against NSO Group highlight the global backlash and efforts to restrict the export and use of spyware.
- The need for international regulations on surveillance technologies and safeguarding human rights in the digital age is emphasized in the aftermath of the Pegasus scandal.
- The story of Pegasus in Ghana serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the complexities of power, privacy, and security in the evolving landscape of digital surveillance.
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