MADRID (Reuters – Catalonia’s regional leader has accused the Spanish government of spying upon its citizens. A rights group reported Monday that his mobile phone, along with dozens other belonging to Catalan proindependence figures, had been infected using spyware developed by sovereign states.

Citizen Lab, a digital rights organization, found that over 60 people were connected to the Catalan separatist Movement, which included several European Parliament members, as well as lawyers, activists and politicians. The spyware “Pegasus”, made by Israel’s NSO Group, was used on them.

Pere Aragones (Catalan leader) tweeted, “It’s a disgrace.” “Unserious attack on democracy and fundamental rights.”

He described the surveillance software use as crossing “red lines”, and demanded clarifications from Spain’s government.

Reuters reached the government but was not able to get a comment.

Citizen Lab reported that almost all the infections occurred between 2017-2020, following a Catalonia failed attempt to independe, which plunged Spain into the worst political crisis it has ever faced.

Citizen Lab, based in Toronto, said that it couldn’t conclusively attribute spying operations to any specific entity. However, they stated: “Strong circumstantial proof suggests a nexus between Spanish authorities.”

Citizen Lab started its investigation in 2020, after several Catalan legislators, including Roger Torrent (parlour speaker), were warned by researchers from Facebook’s instant messaging service WhatsApp that they had their phones stolen.

Fernando Marlaska (Interior Minister) denied that the Spanish government nor its intelligence services were involved at that point.

The newspaper El Pais reported later that the software was available to Spain’s intelligence agency CNI.

Pegasus has been called out by the European Union’s Data Protection Watchdog for being used to spy on journalists, rights activists and politicians.

Reuters last week reported that the software had targeted several EU senior officials. It allows you to view photos and videos on a target device, as well as other personal information.

NSO, which sells the software to law-enforcement agencies, didn’t respond immediately to a request.