The US spied on thousands of targets in Mexico with spyware

Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – According to a report by The New York Times, the United States Government has used the cyber-espionage program Pegasus, developed by the NSO Group, to monitor targets in Mexico on multiple occasions, possibly thousands of times.

The report reveals that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contracted the spyware via the company “Cleopatra Holdings” in 2021. Pegasus allows users to privately track cell phones globally, without the device carrier’s consent.

Days later, the US organization signed a new contract with Cleopatra Holdings for the landmark program, which can locate and identify telephone calls in real-time. The New York Times claims that, under this contract, Pegasus was evaluated and used against “targets of its choice in Mexico,” with thousands of uses in at least one instance.

The federal administration of the United States refused to answer questions from The New York Times regarding which government agency acquired the spyware and why it was repeatedly used in Mexico.

The President of the United States’ government signed an executive order to restrict the use of software that has been abused by different nations, including Pegasus. However, Cleopatra Holdings continues to make monthly payments for the program.

Pegasus is known to infect mobile devices and allow attackers to access private data, such as messages, emails, photos, and call records. The spyware can also activate a device’s microphone and camera, enabling eavesdropping and monitoring of the user’s surroundings. Governments and law enforcement agencies have used Pegasus to target individuals for surveillance, including journalists, activists, and politicians, raising concerns about privacy violations and human rights abuses. Pegasus has also been linked to attacks on journalists and dissidents in recent years. The spyware was developed by Israel’s intelligence services.

Mexico’s Government also uses Pegasus to spy on journalists and human rights activists

An investigation carried out by the Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D) based on the documents leaked by the Guacamaya collective and released in March showed that the Military Intelligence Center, a secret branch of the National Defense Secretariat ( Sedena) used the Pegasus malware to spy on human rights activist Raymundo Ramos, with the full knowledge of the High Command, that is, the Secretary of National Defense, General Luis Crescencio Sandoval, to interfere in the investigations into extrajudicial executions in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas .

A secret information card from Sedena reveals that the Military Intelligence Center intervened in the private communications that Raymundo Ramos had in his role as president of the Human Rights Committee of Nuevo Laredo with several journalists in relation to the alleged extrajudicial executions committed by the Army on July 3, 2020.

An updated forensic analysis from the Citizen Lab of the University of Toronto, R3D points out, showed that Raymundo Ramos’ phone was infected with Pegasus on different occasions between August 16, 2020, and September 2, 2020.

Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - According to a report by The New York Times, the United States Government has used the cyber-espionage program Pegasus, developed . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • Where do foreigners come from and where do they live in MexicoMexico City Protest on July 5 Challenges Gentrification and Airbnb’s Impact on Housing Residents of Roma and Condesa will gather at Parque México on July 5 to protest gentrification, rising rents, and Airbnb’s effect on local housing. This Saturday, July 5, Mexico City will witness its first organized citizen protest against gentrification—a peaceful but urgent gathering taking place at 3:30 p.m. at the Lindbergh Forum in Parque México,…
  • raw-sewage-playa-los-muertos-puerto-vallartaMore Raw Sewage Dumping at Playa Los Muertos Appear to Come From Local Hotel Business owners in Puerto Vallarta are demanding action after raw sewage was discovered leaking onto Playa Los Muertos, raising public health and tourism concerns. A raw sewage leak at Playa Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta has sparked outrage among local tourist service providers and business owners, who say the contamination is driving away visitors and…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • José Luis Velázquez RodríguezSEAPAL Official Reported Missing in Puerto Vallarta Authorities in Puerto Vallarta have launched a search for José Luis Velázquez Rodríguez, SEAPAL's head of transparency, who has been missing since June 30. Family and officials are urging the public to report any information. Local authorities and civil protection units have launched a search operation for José Luis Velázquez Rodríguez, head of the Transparency…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • mexico city real estateGentrification in Mexico City is not the reason for the high cost of housing City housing shortage, not gentrification, drives prices skyward as planning lags behind demand and foreigner influence remains minimal. High real estate costs in Mexico City stem from a deep and persistent housing shortage—exacerbated by land constraints, tangled regulations and speculative investment—rather than by the presence of foreign residents. Despite headlines blaming “gentrification,” foreign-born residents make…
  • protestProtest graffiti and smashed windows mars anti-gentrification rally in Mexico City Residents and activists joined an anti-gentrification rally in Mexico Park, but the anti-gentrification rally Mexico Park turned destructive as masked youths defaced local shops and broke windows. A rally against gentrification held yesterday in Mexico City’s Parque México drew residents from Juárez, Roma, Condesa and Hipódromo alongside local activists. Organizers billed it as the city’s…
  • no-damage-jalisco-hurricane-flossieNo Damage Reported in Jalisco as Hurricane Flossie Moves Away While Mexico's Weather Service predicted heavy rains, Hurricane Flossie causes no damage along Jalisco’s coast. The Category 3 storm brings light rain and moderate waves as it moves away from the region. The coasts of Jalisco remain calm and largely unaffected following the passage of Hurricane Flossie, a powerful Category 3 storm that is now…
Scroll to Top