CatalanGate: Pegasus against 65 Catalans
Citizen Lab and Amnesty International documented in 2022: the Spanish state infected at least 65 people with Pegasus spyware — elected politicians, lawyers, journalists. Spain's NSO-gate.
Summary
The April 2022 Citizen Lab report “CatalanGate” evidenced at least 65 Catalan figures infected with Pegasus (NSO Group) and Candiru spyware — including parliament president Roger Torrent, MEPs, lawyers of the independence movement, and journalists. Amnesty International forensically confirmed and urged EU action. The Spanish government later acknowledged the previous (PP) administration had targeted opponents; details of the current case remain unresolved. No victim has received official compensation.
Debunking
False: “It was just a hack, not surveillance.” — The spyware can activate microphones, read messages, and track location in real time. Against elected representatives, that is full surveillance — in a democracy, an attack on the constitution itself.