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Governments' have been known to be in the spying game since humans formed societies and kingdoms emerged. ( https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24749166 https://w

Governments' have been known to be in the spying game since humans formed societies and kingdoms emerged. ( https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24749166 https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24749166 ). Even our modern postal system are somewhat developed on the Roman model of its own messenger service, which was mainly created for easy spying and to protect the rulers from espionage. ( https://www.historynet.com/espionage-in-ancient-rome.htm https://www.historynet.com/espionage-in-ancient-rome.htm ) Pegasus is just a tool, and we shouldn't be shocked that a government owns or even uses such a tool. Our only concern should be whether the use of such tools are well-defined and legal, and upholds our democratic values. A functional and thriving democracy ensures that those voted to power cannot abuse their privilege. Or those who do abuse it cannot do so without repercussions. We can see this in action in India today, where the current Modi government in power is accused of abusing this very privilege and using Pegasus to spy on activists, journalists and opposition leaders that the Modi regime considers a threat to itself ( https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explained-pegasus-and-the-laws-on-surveillance-in-india/article35516430.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explained-pegasus-and... ). If true, that's a gross abuse of power, and a threat to India's democracy. Pegasus isn't the worry here - if a government in power doesn't have any respect for democracy, that threat will remain whether Pegasus exists or not. Opposition politicians have already raised the issue in the Parliament. Some of the concerned citizens, who believe they were the target of such surveillance, have already filed petitions in the Supreme Court of India, and the court has summoned the government to explain and defend itself ( https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/pegasus-case-supreme-court-adjourns-hearing-till-sep-13-as-centre-seeks-time-for-affidavit-181060 https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/pegasus-case-supreme-cour... ). If the allegation are true, this case will reveal how much the "checks and balances" of Indian democracy have failed (indicating that it has become a dysfunctional democracy). Or the revelations of this case may just strengthen indian democracy, with more checks and balances by the court and (who knows) maybe even stronger privacy laws. Germany (or any other country) too should have the same concerns - worry about your democracy and stronger privacy laws. Pegasus is irrelevant in the larger scheme.

1cvmask 5y ago
You write: A functional and thriving democracy ensures that those voted to power cannot abuse their privilege. Or those who do abuse it cannot do so without repercussions. - They always break the law and abuse it. And there are no repercussions for breaking the law. George W Bush onwards there is precedence for lack of liability or repercussions. The same applies to all other countries and sets the inspiration for them for the all tracking surveillance state, which will always be abused. Restrictions exist to curtail and limit human nature. Once those restrictions are removed or above the law then we all subjects are at the mercy of the elites and their elite narrative. Woe to those who try to defy this Brave New World.

1cvmask 5y ago

You write: A functional and thriving democracy ensures that those voted to power cannot abuse their privilege. Or those who do abuse it cannot do so without repercussions. - They always break the law and abuse it. And there are no repercussions for breaking the law. George W Bush onwards there is precedence for lack of liability or repercussions. The same applies to all other countries and sets the inspiration for them for the all tracking surveillance state, which will always be abused. Restrictions exist to curtail and limit human nature. Once those restrictions are removed or above the law then we all subjects are at the mercy of the elites and their elite narrative. Woe to those who try to defy this Brave New World.