How a phone hacking tool was sold to governments around the world

Investigative reporter Stephanie Kirchgaessner tells Michael Safi how a technology company's clients have apparently selected journalists, activists and politicians in advance of possible surveillance

This episode first aired on our global news podcast, Today in Focus

The Guardian revealed on Monday a huge data leak showing more than 50,000 phone numbers that, since 2016, are believed to have been selected as persons of interest by government clients of NSO Group, which sells surveillance software. Forbidden Stories, a Paris-based nonprofit journalism organisation, and Amnesty International initially had access to the list and shared access with 17 media organisations including the Guardian. More than 80 journalists have worked together over several months as part of the Pegasus project.