Mexico arrests businessman for using Pegasus spyware on journalist

Mexican prosecutors said they have arrested a businessman on charges he used the Pegasus spyware to spy on a journalist.

The software marketed by the Israeli spyware firm NSO Group has been implicated in government surveillance of opponents and journalists around the world.

Mexico had the largest list about 15,000 phone numbers among more than 50,000 reportedly selected by NSO clients for potential surveillance.

Federal prosecutors announced the arrest on Monday, but did not name the suspect under rules aimed at protecting presumption of innocence.

A federal official not authorised to be quoted by name said the suspect is Juan Carlos Garca Rivera, who has been linked to the company Proyectos y Diseos VME and Grupo KBH. He was detained on November 1.