The Pegasus project revelations make for uncomfortable reading, but should be of little surprise (Revealed: leak uncovers global abuse of cyber-surveillance weapon, 18 July), and I’d urge caution to those seeking to present this as a technological problem. We know that there are regimes that want to oppress people and that there are mercenaries who will be looking to profit from this. This has been going on for centuries.
Yes, we can take steps to improve the security of everyday technology, and these should continue to be taken to try and create a safe and secure online space. But ironically, the more secure you make the technology, the larger the potential profits for the mercenaries, because demand increases as fewer people can successfully target devices and internet services.
Sadly, this kind of espionage will continue while there is a market for it. Oppressive regimes will continue to oppress and endanger those who stand up against them using whatever means they have access to. Regulating and controlling this spyware industry will not discourage these regimes from acquiring the technology or prevent them from using it to suppress dissent. We can, and should, take steps to further secure the technology that we use on a daily basis, but our problems are geopolitical and societal ones, not wholly technological.
Dr Duncan Hodges
Senior lecturer in cyberspace operations, Cranfield University
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