Spain vows to be transparent in probe of Pegasus spyware use

Spanish authorities are pledging full transparency, as they launch inquiries into allegations that the phones of dozens of supporters of Catalan independence were hacked with powerful and controversial spyware only sold to government agencies.

Citizen Lab, an experts group linked to the University of Toronto, says traces of Pegasus and other spyware by two Israeli companies, NSO Group and Candiru, were identified in devices of 65 people, including elected officials, activists, lawyers, European lawmakers and others.

An internal probe by Spain’s intelligence agency, a special parliamentary commission to share its results, and a separate investigation by Spain’s ombudsman will be arranged to show that central authorities in Madrid have “nothing to hide,” the minister for presidency and relations with parliament, Félix Bolaños, announces.

“The government has a clean conscience and we have nothing to hide,” Bolaños adds.