<p>The German government admitted Tuesday that its federal police service used controversial Israeli spyware known as Pegasus, parliamentary sources told AFP, drawing immediate criticism from rights groups.</p>.<p>Germany's BKA federal police bought the software from Israel's NSO Group in late 2019, a closed-door parliamentary committee heard from government officials.</p>.<p>The admission, recounted to AFP by sources at the meeting, confirmed earlier reports in German media outlets Zeit, Sueddeutsche, NDR and WDR. </p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pegasus-row-sc-grants-more-time-to-centre-for-filing-response-fixes-pleas-for-hearing-on-sept-13-1027953.html" target="_blank">Pegasus row: SC grants more time to Centre for filing response, fixes pleas for hearing on Sept 13</a></strong></p>.<p>Pegasus, which is able to switch on a phone's camera or microphone and harvest its data, came under global scrutiny after a list of about 50,000 potential surveillance targets -- including journalists, activists and politicians -- was leaked in July.</p>.<p>French President Emmanuel Macron changed his phone after his number appeared on a list of potential targets.</p>.<p>The German parliamentary sources said the BKA, which falls under the interior ministry, used the Pegasus software "in a small number of cases".</p>.<p>It remains unclear whether German intelligence agencies also used the software.</p>.<p>Germany's strict privacy laws only allow for data harvesting under very specific conditions, which led the BKA to buy a version of the software in which some spy functions were switched off, the committee heard.</p>.<p>It is not known what, if any, safeguards were in place to ensure those options remained unused.</p>.<p>Greens' lawmaker Konstantin von Notz called the Pegasus acquisition "a nightmare for the rule of law" and demanded "a full explanation" from Chancellor Angela Merkel's government.</p>.<p>Amnesty International called for "urgent rules on public procurement that require state agencies to also consider companies' human rights records when making purchases".</p>.<p>"We want to know if journalists were spied on without their knowledge and whether their sources are still safe," added Frank Ueberall, chairman of the German Federation of Journalists (DJV).</p>.<p>Pegasus's list of alleged targets includes at least 600 politicians, 180 journalists, 85 human rights activists and 65 business leaders.</p>.<p>NSO has insisted that its software was intended for use only in fighting terrorism and other crimes. </p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest DH videos here: </strong></p>
<p>The German government admitted Tuesday that its federal police service used controversial Israeli spyware known as Pegasus, parliamentary sources told AFP, drawing immediate criticism from rights groups.</p>.<p>Germany's BKA federal police bought the software from Israel's NSO Group in late 2019, a closed-door parliamentary committee heard from government officials.</p>.<p>The admission, recounted to AFP by sources at the meeting, confirmed earlier reports in German media outlets Zeit, Sueddeutsche, NDR and WDR. </p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pegasus-row-sc-grants-more-time-to-centre-for-filing-response-fixes-pleas-for-hearing-on-sept-13-1027953.html" target="_blank">Pegasus row: SC grants more time to Centre for filing response, fixes pleas for hearing on Sept 13</a></strong></p>.<p>Pegasus, which is able to switch on a phone's camera or microphone and harvest its data, came under global scrutiny after a list of about 50,000 potential surveillance targets -- including journalists, activists and politicians -- was leaked in July.</p>.<p>French President Emmanuel Macron changed his phone after his number appeared on a list of potential targets.</p>.<p>The German parliamentary sources said the BKA, which falls under the interior ministry, used the Pegasus software "in a small number of cases".</p>.<p>It remains unclear whether German intelligence agencies also used the software.</p>.<p>Germany's strict privacy laws only allow for data harvesting under very specific conditions, which led the BKA to buy a version of the software in which some spy functions were switched off, the committee heard.</p>.<p>It is not known what, if any, safeguards were in place to ensure those options remained unused.</p>.<p>Greens' lawmaker Konstantin von Notz called the Pegasus acquisition "a nightmare for the rule of law" and demanded "a full explanation" from Chancellor Angela Merkel's government.</p>.<p>Amnesty International called for "urgent rules on public procurement that require state agencies to also consider companies' human rights records when making purchases".</p>.<p>"We want to know if journalists were spied on without their knowledge and whether their sources are still safe," added Frank Ueberall, chairman of the German Federation of Journalists (DJV).</p>.<p>Pegasus's list of alleged targets includes at least 600 politicians, 180 journalists, 85 human rights activists and 65 business leaders.</p>.<p>NSO has insisted that its software was intended for use only in fighting terrorism and other crimes. </p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest DH videos here: </strong></p>