Pegasus Spyware Targeted Mexican Investigators, Journalists, Activists, and Politicians

Forensic investigations and media reports found that Pegasus spyware, developed by Israel-based NSO Group and marketed to governments, was used in Mexico to target a wide range of individuals tied to politically sensitive issues. Confirmed targets included international investigators examining the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students, journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders, public health advocates backing Mexico’s soda tax, and senior opposition politicians from the PAN party. Citizen Lab linked multiple SMS lure campaigns to Pegasus infrastructure, including domains such as smsmensaje[.]mx, and documented social-engineering messages crafted around news reports, death notices, and other urgent themes.

The disclosures intensified allegations that Mexican authorities used surveillance tools beyond criminal or counterterrorism purposes and instead against critics, civil society, and even internationally appointed officials. Mexican authorities denied responsibility and said they would investigate, but human rights groups, opposition lawmakers, U.N. experts, and European legislators called for an independent international inquiry and a halt to spyware use pending a full probe. The case widened into a major political and human rights scandal, with critics arguing that Mexico could not credibly investigate surveillance abuses allegedly tied to its own government.