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ISRAELI SPYWARE CLAIMS OUTRAGEOUS – GOVT SPOKESPERSON

By SIBUSISO DLAMINI | 2024-12-23

Government has strongly refuted that it employs Israeli military-grade spyware to monitor citizens.

Government’s position comes after an article by US publication, The Washington Post, first published in July 2021 and updated in July this year.

The article which continues to be a notable point of reference in anti-surveillance and digital security discussions worldwide, claims that Eswatini, alongside many other nations including Mozambique, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Angola, Nigeria and Botswana, among, others deploy Pegasus, a highly sophisticated spyware developed by the Israel-based NSO Group.

Engineered to evade defences on iPhones and Android devices and to leave few traces of its attack, familiar privacy measures like strong passwords and encryption offer little help against Pegasus, as it attacks phones without any warning to users.

It can read anything on a device that a user can, while also stealing photos, recordings, location records, communications, passwords, call logs and social media posts.

The article by The Washington Post isn’t on Eswatini in particular, but mentions the country alongside many other countries whose governments have allegedly turned to the spyware” which has been globally controversial for its alleged misuse in tracking political dissidents, journalists and activists.

Responding to the claims, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said the allegations delve into sensitive matters of State security, which are classified as confidential and therefore, questioned the motives behind the article.

“It is outrageous and appalling to accuse Eswatini of using Israeli spyware to spy on its citizens without any proof,” Nxumalo said, claiming that such proof could only come from court rulings demonstrating state culpability, which he stated do not exist.

Nxumalo then invited any citizen that felt that their privacy has been invaded to approach the courts.

“The courts of the land are open (24/7) to receive petitions to that effect,” he stated.
The government spokesperson accused The Washington Post of sensationalism and of encroaching on matters beyond public consumption.

“We should remember that this newspaper is neither a constitution nor a Holy Bible. It is our considered view that they were just committing incursions on matters not meant for public consumption,” Nxumalo said, labelling the article ‘disingenuous and presumptuous.’

“It is not clear how and why The Washington Post would have an interest in what Eswatini uses as tools and gadgets to safeguard national security, let alone from which countries the kingdom secures the same,” said Nxumalo. Nonetheless, he dismissed the allegations as speculative and lacking credible evidence.

It’s alarming, media houses should train journalist – Editor’s Forum

The Editors Forum has described claims that the government is deploying Pegasus spyware to monitor citizens as alarming.

The sophisticated surveillance tool, developed by Israel’s NSO Group, is internationally notorious for being used to target journalists, activists and critics of regimes.

While Editors Forum Secretary-General, Jabu Matsebula, noted that he had not yet reviewed the article in detail, he acknowledged the seriousness of the claims.

“An issue relating to the surveillance of members of the public, as the report suggests, is deeply concerning. It directly interferes with the human right to privacy, particularly regarding personal information,” he said. Matsebula therefore, emphasised the importance of equipping journalists to safeguard themselves in light of such allegations.

“It is incumbent upon media houses to ensure that journalists are trained to protect themselves, their sources and the information they handle.

This digital age presents unique challenges, and journalists must be prepared to navigate environments where surveillance is a real possibility,” he said.

Matsebula acknowledged that the capacities to counter advanced surveillance techniques, such as those employed by Pegasus, are limited in the country, and therefore, called for a collective effort to provide journalists with basic training to mitigate risks associated with digital espionage.

“There are existing resources that can help us in ensuring that journalists are at least aware of these threats and have some skills to protect themselves,” he said, stating that the Forum is committed to addressing the issue.

“As more of this information becomes available, we should, as an industry, educate ourselves and take measures to respond effectively,” Matsebula added, reiterating the responsibility of journalists to remain vigilant, despite working in increasingly challenging environments.

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