Weaponized Spyware in Our Pockets: Ronan Farrow Delves into Surveillance Technology

The documentary “Surveilled,” now streaming on HBO, follows journalist Ronan Farrow investigating the use of spyware, particularly Pegasus by the NSO Group. This spyware is marketed to combat crime and terrorism, but concerns have been raised about its misuse, targeting journalists and activists.

Farrow meets with key figures, including a former NSO employee, Ron Deibert from Toronto’s Citizen Lab, and Elies Campo in Catalonia, Spain, who checks for spyware on phones. Campo discovered European parliament members had been hacked due to political tensions, highlighting the implications of this surveillance technology.

Farrow also delves into how the U.S. is evaluating Pegasus’s use and whether it should be regulated. The film raises awareness about the impact of surveillance on privacy rights and democratic expression. Farrow’s interest in this topic stemmed from previous reporting, revealing the extensive capabilities of such spyware like Pegasus.

Filmmakers Matthew O’Neill and Perri Peltz joined Farrow in this project to bring a behind-the-scenes look at investigative journalism. They aimed to show audiences the intricacies of Farrow’s work and the challenges journalists face, capturing the essence of a real investigation in action.

The documentary sheds light on how NSO has been distributing Pegasus at varying rates to different regions, sparking further discussions about the ethical use of surveillance technologies worldwide.