Spain’s High Court has again shelved its investigation into the suspected use of Pegasus spyware against senior Spanish officials after repeated attempts to secure cooperation from Israeli authorities went unanswered. The stalled probe — involving potential surveillance on top government figures — highlights international legal hurdles in tracking cross-border cyber incursions.
Why the Investigation Was Halted
The legal inquiry, overseen by Judge José Luis Calama of Spain’s Audiencia Nacional, had been reopened in recent years to determine whether state or foreign actors unlawfully employed Pegasus — a powerful surveillance tool developed by Israel’s NSO Group — against Spanish political officials. Efforts to identify suspects and gather key evidence were undercut by a continued lack of answers from Israeli officials to multiple requests for judicial assistance, the court said.
Targets of the Alleged Spyware Access
The allegations stem from earlier claims that the phones of Spain’s prime minister and several cabinet ministers were compromised by malware capable of extracting communications data. Although forensic analysis confirmed suspicious activity on the devices, investigators have been unable to link the break-ins to specific individuals or entities — largely because Israel did not respond to formal cooperation letters sent by Spanish authorities.
NSO Group’s Position and Legal Implications
NSO Group, the creator of Pegasus spyware, maintains that its technology is sold only under strict licences for counter-terrorism and serious crime investigations, and that it has no control once sold to government clients. Israel’s government, for its part, says its role is limited to licensing and export oversight. The inability of Spain’s judiciary to compel international cooperation has now stalled the case for a second time, underscoring the challenges of cybercrime investigations that cross national boundaries.
