The Thai government is suspected of using Israeli surveillance technology against more than two dozen dissidents and activists who supported democratic reforms, in what experts said was part of a wide-ranging campaign to try to shut down criticism using one of the most advanced spying tools in the world.
A report by researchers at Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto paints a devastating picture of the pervasive use of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware in 2020 and 2021 against pro-democracy protesters, including many who have repeatedly faced arrest, harassment and physical attacks by Thai authorities. The Citizen Lab’s forensic analysis, which was peer-reviewed by experts at Amnesty International’s security lab, also raises questions about statements made by Thai government officials, who last year said reports of state-sponsored attacks were “untrue”.
