WE found investigations from collaborative journalists investigating the existence of Pegasus in Indonesia are very surprising.
Pegasus is a sophisticated tool that has capabilities including the ability to infiltrate the target’s Internet-based electronic devices without being detected. After entering, the Pegasus malware will take control of the device and all the target’s social media accounts. Then, Pegasus is able to suck up all device data and target social media accounts and can activate camera and microphone as well as target GPS.
There are three dangers if the Pegasus device actually enters Indonesia. First, the danger to the freedom of citizens, the danger to political life and the danger to business and investment.
As explained in the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, as well as Forbidden Stories, it is revealed that efforts to spy on activists, journalists and politicians are taking place everywhere, including in Indonesia.
One of the devices used is Pegasus, a software produced by an intelligence company from Israel, NSO Group Technologies.
An investigation from Indonesialeaks.com stated that Israel’s NSO Group Technologies had sent a Pegasus to a business entity in Indonesia, namely PT Mandala Wangi Kreasindo via Soetta airport on September 15, 2020.
Pegasus had entered Indonesia, imported by private parties
The software and hardware come from Q Cyber Technologies (NSO Group) wrapped in Dell electronic products that seamlessly entered Indonesia without any hindrance at all.
There are researchers, including Citizenlab, who suspect that the presence of Pegasus in Indonesia is real and has several indications, including the procurement of special intelligence and security equipment for the zero-click intrusion system at the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police worth IDR 99.1 billion in 2017. and the procurement of special zero-click development tools click intrusion system at the Indonesian Police worth IDR 149.9 billion in 2018.
However, the police denied buying and using the Pegasus device. As explained by the Head of the Technology, Information and Communication Division of the National Police, Inspector General Slamet Uliandi.
Slamet Uliandi also explained that the Police used a tapping device with the Zero-Click method instead of a Pegasus.
If the Pegasus is not used by law enforcement officials (APH) such as the police and intelligence units (BIN), then the entry of Pegasus into Indonesia is very dangerous for everyone including politicians, activists, critics and business entities.
Even if APH admits that using the Pegasus cannot be considered safe because the House and the Government have never agreed on the rules for using this sophisticated tool.
This tool is vulnerable to being used for personal interests, certain parties and certain groups rather than being used for public interests and the interests of the state.
It’s strange how come a private-business entity like PT Mandala Wangi Kreasindo can buy a Pegasus without the government and House officials sniffing it. Moreover, the company is indicated to be affiliated with the wife of a Jokowi cabinet minister.
As quoted by Kabar24. Bisnis.com, there are indications that the purchaser of this sophisticated tool is not a state institution but a company that has changed ownership, the latest in the deed of March 20, 2020, Nadia Nasoetion and PT Kotak Jiwa Sejahtera were listed as leaving the list of shareholders of Mandala Wangi Kreasindo.
The Indonesialeak investigation needs to be continued by the DPR because of the sophistication of this tool which, when used by the private sector, can misuse all the private conversations of citizens, including activists, politicians and businessmen.
The Pegasus issue is a public policy issue so there is no need for the DPR to be afraid of anyone defending the public.
The DPR needs to summon PT MANDALA WANGI KREASINDO, POLICE AND BIN to explain the existence of Pegasus in Indonesia. If it turns out that it is true that it has been abused, then there must be sanctions given to the party who abused it.
In the future, if all sophisticated tools such as the Pegasus are used by the government or other state institutions, strict supervision and SOPs involving the judiciary are needed so that the human rights of citizens are not harmed by the presence of these tools.
Political sensitive of the year 2024.
The political year is a sensitive time not only for political parties and presidential candidates but also for investors and the new national capital of nusantara (IKN) strategic project.
If the existence of a Pegasus is misused, it could benefit the owner to enrich themselves or use it according to damage democracy as they wish, the business climate and the freedom of citizens.
Achmad Nur Hidayat, MPP Public Policy Expert, and CEO of Narasi Institute
Source: kbanews.com
