On 28 May Mexico’s national human rights commission (CNDH) raised concerns over allegations that deputy interior minister for human rights, Alejandro Encinas, had been spied on using Pegasus spyware.
Analysis:
The CNDH is the latest human rights organisation to raise concerns over the allegations, which were published as part of an investigation by the New York Times on 22 May. Although the investigation does not detail who was allegedly spying on Encinas – a close ally of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador – it does state that he was allegedly targeted using Pegasus. This follows other recent claims that the defence ministry (Sedena) has spied on civilians using Pegasus during the current administration. Although López Obrador has downplayed the allegations, the incident will heighten scrutiny on the army’s alleged use of Pegasus, as well as the amount of oversight the government has over Sedena, given the seniority of Encinas’ position.
- The CNDH issued a statement expressing concerns that “these kinds of practices [spying]” could target a high-level official, as well as ordinary citizens. The commission said it had been investigating spying, particularly using Pegasus, for months following complaints from human rights defenders (HRDs) and NGOs. However, it noted it has not found concrete evidence that the federal government was using Pegasus or engaging in spying.
- The New York Times said that Encinas was targeted by Pegasus as recently as last year, according to four people who spoke to Encinas about the spying and an independent forensic analysis. It recalled previous accusations by NGOs that the army has used Pegasus to spy on those investigating rights abuses and that Encinas has been critical of the armed forces.
- In a press conference on 23 May, López Obrador said that Encinas had told him he had “probably” been spied on. He said he told Encinas “not to give it any importance” as his government did not spy on anyone.
- Human rights organisations including local human rights group Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez (Prodh) have criticised López Obrador’s response to the allegations.
Looking Ahead: Rights groups are calling for an investigation into the allegations surrounding the armed forces’ use of Pegasus. On 24 May, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Mexico tweeted that “the new revelations, in addition to previous ones, deserve to be investigated in a diligent, independent, exhaustive and impartial manner by civilian bodies”.
