Pegasus by Laurent Richard and Sandrine Rigaud Summary

Pegasus exposes the global cyber-surveillance crisis fueled by invasive spyware developed by the NSO Group. The book chronicles a 2021 data leak of 50,000 targeted phone numbers, revealing how governments weaponized Pegasus to spy on journalists, activists, and political leaders. Investigative journalists Laurent Richard and Sandrine Rigaud detail their high-risk efforts to uncover this threat to democracy, privacy, and free speech.

This book is essential for journalists, cybersecurity experts, and activists concerned about digital privacy. It also appeals to readers interested in real-world investigative journalism (e.g., Panama Papers, Wikileaks) or modern spyware’s societal impact. Tech users seeking to understand smartphone vulnerabilities will find actionable insights into surveillance risks.

Yes—Pegasus blends meticulous reporting with thriller-like pacing, offering a sobering look at unchecked surveillance. It’s praised for simplifying complex tech-political issues and highlighting courageous journalism. Readers gain clarity on how spyware threatens democracies and individual freedoms globally.

Pegasus infects smartphones via "zero-click" attacks, granting full access to messages, microphones, and cameras without user interaction. Governments used it to monitor dissidents, as shown in cases like the targeting of French President Emmanuel Macron and murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s associates.

Forbidden Stories—a journalistic network co-founded by Laurent Richard—spearheaded the Pegasus Project, continuing work of threatened reporters. Their collaboration with 17 media outlets exposed how authoritarian regimes exploited the spyware to silence critics.

The book documents assassinations, jailed activists, and suppressed whistleblowers linked to Pegasus. For example, Mexican journalist Cecilio Pineda Birtoa was murdered after his phone was infected, while Rwandan dissidents faced arbitrary detention.

Richard and Rigaud argue that Pegasus-enabled surveillance erodes democracy by targeting journalists, lawyers, and opposition leaders. The book condemns complicit governments and lax regulations allowing private firms like NSO Group to operate without oversight.

The authors question balancing national security with privacy rights, revealing how Pegasus was marketed to combat terrorism but used to suppress dissent. They highlight the moral bankruptcy of selling spyware to regimes with poor human rights records.

Like Laura Poitras’ Citizenfour, Pegasus blends investigative rigor with real-world stakes. It shares Dark Mirror’s focus on tech’s dark side but emphasizes systemic corruption over individual stories.

Some note the dense technical-political details might overwhelm casual readers. Others argue it under-explores solutions to surveillance beyond exposing abuses.

As AI-driven surveillance expands, Pegasus remains a cautionary tale about unregulated tech. Its lessons resonate amid rising authoritarianism and eroded press freedoms globally.

“A weapon sold as a tool for security became a tool of oppression”. Another pivotal line: “When privacy dies, democracy bleeds”—underscoring the stakes of unchecked surveillance.