Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Pegasus malware signals more surveillance, watchdog group says

  • August 5, 2021
  • Carrie Brown McWhorter
  • International News, Latest News, Persecuted Church, Religious Freedom

Pegasus malware signals more surveillance, watchdog group says

Christians meeting secretly, watching online services or chatting about faith issues are in increasing danger from the threat of spyware, according to persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA.

David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors, said Pegasus spyware currently is “the world’s most sophisticated threat to human rights.”

The developers of Pegasus, NSO Group, say the software is intended for use against criminals and terrorists and is available only to military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies from countries with good human rights records.

But a joint investigation dubbed the Pegasus Project — conducted by Paris-based NGO Forbidden Stories, Amnesty International, The Washington Post and 16 other global media outlets — reported more than 1,000 people spanning more than 50 countries whose phone numbers were on a list being surveilled by Pegasus.

The list includes politicians and government leaders, business executives, journalists and activists. Many of the numbers were clustered in 10 countries, according to the BBC: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Countries of concern

That concerns Curry because five of the countries are on the 2021 World Watch List of those where persecution of Christians is highest — India (No. 10), Saudi Arabia (No. 14), Morocco (No. 27), Mexico (No. 37) and Kazakhstan (No. 41).

In an article published by Religion News Service, Curry called the list of clients that reportedly are using Pegasus “positively chilling.”

“Of the 10 governments that reportedly purchased the tool, all have known histories of human rights violations and have repeatedly demonstrated their desire to suppress dissent,” Curry said.

“For anyone who cares about threats to religious freedom, the Pegasus Project exposes a startling development: Authoritarian states now have all the tools they need to surveil, target and censor religious minorities,” he added.

Curry emphasized that state-sponsored religious persecution has been rising in recent years. In China, for example, the Chinese government routinely uses facial recognition technology to identify opponents of the Chinese Communist Party. He said other countries, including India, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Vietnam, are following China’s lead in efforts to crack down on dissent.

‘Widespread criminalization of faith’

The result of more powerful spyware being available, Curry said, is the “widespread criminalization of faith and dissenting opinion.”

While Americans are relatively protected from many of the rights violations endured abroad, Curry noted that increasing dependence of faith groups and news outlets on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, coupled with pandemic-driven rise in online church attendance, further exposes people of faith to their persecutors.

“The Pegasus Project reveals no online expression of faith is truly safe,” Curry said. “The world must redouble our commitment in pressuring authoritarian regimes to respect the free expression of religion and freedom of speech.”

Curry said Rashad Hussain, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, could play “a critical role in countering authoritarian governments that are infiltrating social media platforms and misusing technology like Pegasus.”

He also called for greater accountability from tech firms that often are “willing to turn a blind eye in the pursuit of profit,” Curry added.

“Any company that sells surveillance tools to known violators of human rights should face consequences for doing so,” he asserted. “A worldwide coalition must issue a moratorium on the sale of such technology to governments that refuse to comply with international standards of human rights. Accountability measures must be established to ensure compliance, and violators must be severely punished.

“In light of the Pegasus Project, further inaction equates to censoring ourselves.”

For more information on helping believers across the globe persecuted for their faith, go to opendoorsusa.org.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 12
    Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 12
    February 6, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Suspected herdsmen kill 12 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria
    Suspected herdsmen kill 12 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria
    February 6, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 12
    Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 12
    February 6, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 12

Does It Align with God’s Character? Exodus 34:1–9 God is Holy. He desires His people to be holy. Holiness has the connotation of separateness. Believers

Suspected herdsmen kill 12 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria

After authorities in Nigeria ignored warnings that thousands of cattlemen were arriving in Benue state, suspected herdsmen on Saturday (Jan. 28) attacked two villages there

Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 12

YOU HAVE SEEN HIM John 9:24–38 “It’s a miracle!” squealed 8-year-old Denise when first outfitted with glasses. Everything came into focus, and she delighted in

person in black long sleeve shirt

First Person: Your prayers make a difference

My dad did the grocery shopping for our family. For him, it was a social thing. He loved running into friends and visiting in the

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel