Misuse of Pegasus Tapping Tools Becomes a Threat to Democracy

2023-06-20 22:03:18

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Discussion entitled Pegasus Tapping Tool is a Threat to Democracy in Cikini Raya, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (20/6/2023). Riana Rizkia’s photo

JAKARTA – Misuse of Pegasus wiretapping devices is considered a threat to democracy. Tool abuse, reconnaissance, and tapping serious impact on the work of journalists.

Secretary General of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia Ika Ningtyas said the use of wiretapping tools requires strict supervision to prevent misuse. “We too, I’m sure our friends already know how real the impact of using this tool is, not just spying on and spying on critical groups that are targeted,” said Ika Ningtyas in a discussion entitled ‘Pegasus Sadap Tool is a Threat to Democracy’ at Cikini Raya, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (20/6/2023).

“But it has sizable consequences for our democracy. This means that the consequences of the misuse of this tool, surveillance and wiretapping have a serious impact on the work of all of us journalists,” he continued.

For this reason, AJI Indonesia urges the government to form a special team to investigate and reveal the extent of the procurement of surveillance equipment, one of which is Pegasus which is software produced by an intelligence company from Israel, NSO Group Technologies.

“A special team should be formed by the state to investigate, investigate and reveal how far this reconnaissance tool has been procured so far, how much budget has been used, which agency has used this tool, who or which party has been targeted by this tool. And who actually oversees this tool,” he said.

In Ika’s opinion, there is a need for clear regulations to provide boundaries, accountability and transparency in the procurement of reconnaissance equipment such as the Pegasus, as well as what is needed and who can use it.

“In Indonesia, our regulations, for example, that wiretapping can indeed be carried out but for law enforcement, meaning that if this is misused to target people or groups that have nothing to do with certain crimes, it means that there is misuse of technology,” he said.

“The purpose of spying is a form of abuse and invasion of privacy and this is also a serious form of inhibition of freedom of expression and freedom of the press,” he continued.

(rca)