Edward Snowden: “Hungary gave the most incriminating response”
At least 180 journalists around the world have been targeted by an Israeli spyware virus. Among these targets, there were 300 Hungarian phone numbers connected to journalists, lawyers, business people and even a journalist’s ex-wife was targeted, the phone number being under her ex-husband’s name.
“In communist-era Hungary, citizens were recruited to spy on their neighbours and report any potential threats to the secret police. In the Hungary of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a spyware tool has been deployed to similar effect, monitoring people with technology that can turn smartphones into troves of information.” – writes the Washington Post.
As Daily News Hungary has already reported, NSO Group, an Israeli security company, had the Hungarian government among its clients to use the Pegasus spyware. This spyware uses phone defaults to access phone conversations, private information, emails, messages, photos and videos. The phone defaults that the spyware uses to its advantage are many times unknown even to the developers.
Pegasus is deemed the most dangerous spyware in the world. The company needs the approval of the Ministry of Defence of Israel to sell it to other countries.
The virus is sent to the phone through a trap link that persuades the victim to open and activate it. Sometimes it can also start itself, as a zero-click hack. Then the spyware captures and copies the phone’s most basic functions and collects camera and microphone recordings, location data, call logs and contacts – The Washington Post further explains.
The scandal made international headlines, and the Hungarian government does not seem to deny the accusations of spying on its citizens. The Guardian asked the Hungarian government about the issue, to which a spokesperson replied that they are “not aware of any alleged data collection claimed by the request.” The government communications office gave another answer:
“Have you asked the same questions of the governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany or France? In the case you have, how long did it take for them to reply, and how did they respond? Was there any intelligence service to help you formulate the questions?”
Edward Snowden, former computer intelligence consultant who leaked highly classified information from the American National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013, reacted in a Twitter post to the news that he calls “the story of the year”.
“Hungary gave the most incriminating response I’ve ever seen to a request for comment on the #Pegasus surveillance scandal. I mean, whenever I’m “not aware” of whether I did something or not, I demand to know if foreign spies tipped you off about it.” – he wrote.
Meanwhile, it was brought to the public’s information that Le Monde, a French newspaper that collaborated in the investigation about Pegasus, interviewed Hungarian Minister of Justice Judit Varga earlier in July. They asked her if she would allow spying on journalists and political opponents. Varga was allegedly angry at this question, saying it was a provocation. The day after, a request from the ministry was sent to Le Monde to delete the question and the answer from the interview. – writes Telex.
Source: The Washington Post, The Guardian, forbiddenstories.org, 24.hu, 444.hu, Telex
Wow, this government doesnt even have shame.
They dont hide anymore, this is so concerning.
Criminals dont stop hiding, dictators do.
Not sure anyone can do anything to this government anymore.
Free elections in 2022 ? ha ha that’s funny , i guarantee you it will be like in Belarus.
Continues to give all indications that as a Government it’s actions are aligned to those that it could seriously be stated occurred behind the iron curtain.
Dictatorships and Governments that act in an Authoritarian style in there Political Ideas and Philosophies, function and play, by rules, that are totally divorced of Democracy.
Hungary it continues to be witnessed globally, building opinion, that it is a Dictatorship form of Government, and not to change from the direction it has been lead, under the Prime Minister – Victor Orban and Fidesz Party.
Hungary is being internationally challenged in regards to the question of its “move” to a Dictatorship.
In addition to the global microscopes on Hungary, it’s Fight to remain or find a “common ground” – a working amicable relationship in the European Union remains questionable, volatile and of great, into the Future un-certainty.
National Elections in May 2022 – the most significant elections for it’s Future since 1989.
Hungary – ageing population of 9.6 million that has been given through Democracy – the right and power to it’s citizens to vote – that can – through numbers – make change.
Voting – without Political manipulation or acts that prevent freedom of peoples rights to vote and that there votes are recorded and boxed or lodged, as they record, and that the Government elected May 2022 – is appointed through right and proper conduct of the election process.
will stop at nothing and Hungary denying it’s “move” to a dictatorship regime
Every country spies om its own citizens, it just so happens Hungary isn’t blatantly lying like the US, who is worse than Hungary for its treatment of its own citizens (ex: torturing its own citizens at Guantanamo Bay).
Rule of law is the bigger question whoes rule of law that’s the bottom line and then like the good book it is down to interpretation with the courts and oh the EU have a bigger court than any country in Europe so yes Hungary have to make it a national stance when implementing new laws and put the good book behind it too..
When all is said and done I love Hungarians this is why I live here not the politics Hungary has never given me a forint oh ok 12,200 huf a month for my daughter thats just about it oh and the amount of tax I pay is more than the minimum wage grose a per month. The goverment has not helped me one iota I do it on my own 2 feet and well there we go thanks for reading ❤.
I’m sure Mrs. Varga can explain and document when not the press, but the EU comes calling?
Any capabilities it has, pales in comparison to the US -remember the Obama – Merkel cell phone hack. Just this week the DOJ and FBI raided to journalist apartments in NY in regards to Biden’s daughters diary-Like Hunter she had a drug problem and a sex addition – they photo copy of the pages from the diary and claims she was abused as a child. I won’t even repeat what was in the diary put it’s on line.
The good news a SOROS schill Fiona Hill was on the payroll. She used to be the Ukrainian US ambassador and testified against trump at one of the monthly impeachment trials. When you have someone like SOROS who would love to see Hungarian gov. fall- you better have any resources you can get. He has just donated another 18 billion after a 18 billions few years ago. He has focused on the judicial system in the US that has been a disaster and it has been going on for years in conjuntion with the Dems. Many of the US government agencies have been corrupted starting at the top. Since Snowden, things have gone to a whole new level.