In a gripping new documentary, investigative journalist Ronan Farrow delves into the shadowy realm of commercial surveillance spyware and its chilling ramifications for democracy and freedom worldwide. “Surveilled,” now streaming on HBO, offers a disturbing glimpse into the sophisticated technologies enabling governments to secretly monitor their citizens with ease and impunity.
The Power of Pegasus
At the heart of Farrow’s exposé lies Pegasus, a potent spyware tool developed by Israeli firm NSO Group. Once secretly installed on a target’s phone, Pegasus grants complete access to the device’s data—texts, photos, voice recordings—and can commandeer its camera and microphone to surveil the victim’s every move. Alarmingly, Pegasus can infiltrate phones without any action from the owner, making it virtually undetectable.
Abuses Abound
While NSO claims Pegasus is only sold to vetted government agencies for legitimate law enforcement purposes, Farrow uncovers a disturbing pattern of misuse. From the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to the targeting of Catalan separatists by the Spanish government, Pegasus has been linked to human rights abuses and anti-democratic crackdowns worldwide.
“These companies need to be subject to the same kind of international regulation and legal infrastructure that arms dealers are. That’s just the reality. It’s dangerous tech. It threatens democracy and freedom.”
– Ronan Farrow
Lack of Oversight
Despite the documented abuses, the commercial spyware industry operates with minimal transparency or accountability. NSO denies knowledge of specific targets and rejects responsibility for client actions. Disturbingly, repressive regimes in the Middle East are among NSO’s top clients, purchasing Pegasus at premium prices to surveil dissidents and critics.
Dangerous Trajectory
The film argues that without robust regulations and oversight, invasive spyware like Pegasus poses a grave threat to privacy, free speech, and democracy itself. As the technology grows cheaper and more accessible, even Western governments are embracing it. The US Department of Homeland Security recently purchased powerful spyware from another Israeli firm, with plans to monitor millions awaiting immigration hearings.
“We all need to be invested in whether the space for political diversity of opinion, resistance, dissent, journalists getting information, shrinks or remains alive. This is not some side issue. This underpins all of the issues we care about.”
– Ronan Farrow
Call to Action
Ultimately, “Surveilled” serves as an urgent warning and rallying cry. As Farrow makes clear, reining in the unrestrained spread of spyware like Pegasus is essential to preserving the foundations of free societies. Only by demanding transparency, accountability, and strict regulations can we hope to prevent this technology from falling into the wrong hands and ushering in an Orwellian future.
The threat of unbridled surveillance looms large, and the time to act is now. Ronan Farrow’s “Surveilled” is a must-watch for anyone who values their privacy and believes in the power of journalism to expose hard truths and catalyze change. In an increasingly digital world, our freedom depends on shining a light into the shadows.
