German lawmakers and officials get Apple spyware warnings for iPhones
Members of the Bundestag and government officials have received Apple threat notifications saying their iPhones may have been targeted by "mercenary" spyware. Germany's cybersecurity office says the cause is unknown and advises those affected to assume their devices are compromised.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Germany's Digital Affairs Minister Karsten Wildberger said on Sunday 1 November that hackers had targeted devices belonging to members of the Bundestag and government officials. Anadolu AgencyN “Germany’s Digital Affairs Minister Karsten Wildberger said Sunday that hackers had targeted devices belonging to members of the lower house of Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, and government officials.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1He told the public broadcaster ARD that the case involved a notification from Apple that certain devices may have been compromised by so-called spyware. Anadolu AgencyN ““a notification from Apple that certain devices may have been compromised by so-called spyware.”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1According to a letter reported by ARD, iPhones have been receiving threat notifications from Apple since 29 October saying an attack involving so-called "Mercenary" spyware had been detected. Anadolu AgencyN “iPhones have been receiving threat notifications from Apple since Oct. 29 stating that an attack involving so-called “Mercenary” spyware had been detected.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 2The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) informed those affected in writing and said it had no further information on the specific cause or background of the notifications. Anadolu AgencyN ““We currently have no further information regarding the specific cause or background of the notifications,” the BSI said.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ TechCrunchN “said in a note over the weekend that it had become aware that members of the Bundestag” Read at TechCrunch ↗ Centre · 2The BSI advised that anyone receiving an Apple threat notification should assume, as a precaution, that the device may have been compromised, because Apple does not say whether an attack succeeded or attribute it to a specific government. Anadolu AgencyN “The BSI recommended that those affected “assume, as a precaution, that the device may have been compromised.”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ TechCrunchN “Apple does not attribute attacks to specific governments or say whether someone’s phone has actually been compromised.” Read at TechCrunch ↗ Centre · 1Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius, as quoted by the Financial Times via TechCrunch, said Berlin was taking the incident and the warning very seriously, but he did not say who in the federal government was targeted, including whether Chancellor Friedrich Merz was among them. TechCrunchN “he did not say who in the federal government had been targeted, including whether German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was among them.” Read at TechCrunch ↗
Centre · 1TechCrunch described the spyware as government-backed, while noting it is unclear who is behind the latest attacks or which government may have orchestrated the targeting. TechCrunchN “It’s unclear who is behind this latest round of spyware attacks, or which government may have orchestrated the targeting.”“targeted by government-backed spyware” Read at TechCrunch ↗ Centre · 1The BSI says such spyware can give attackers access to messages, including those on encrypted apps, as well as calls, contacts, calendars and location data, and can activate the microphone and camera. Anadolu AgencyN “attackers could use this to access messages—including those on encrypted messaging apps—as well as calls, contacts, calendars and location data and activate the microphone and camera.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1The warnings were not limited to Germany: Beirut-based filmmaker Radwan Mortada said on X that he received a notification of "another attack against your device" after being targeted in 2021, and the notice he received said this batch went to users in 99 countries. TechCrunchN “Per the notice received by Mortada, Apple said its latest batch of threat notifications went out to users in 99 countries.” Read at TechCrunch ↗
Centre · 1TechCrunch notes that governments typically buy such tools from private vendors, the best known being Israel's NSO Group with its Pegasus spyware, and that Germany's federal criminal police office, the BKA, reportedly bought access to Pegasus in 2019. TechCrunchN “Germany’s own central federal law agency, the BKA, reportedly bought access to Pegasus in 2019.” Read at TechCrunch ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Anadolu relays the minister's and BSI's statements and explains what spyware can do; TechCrunch widens to the global context of commercial spyware, other recipients and the unknown culprit.
- Emphasis
- Anadolu stresses the official German response and the BSI's technical description; TechCrunch stresses the 99-country scope, the vendor industry and Germany's past Pegasus purchase.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu does not mention the global scope of the notifications or the spyware-vendor context; TechCrunch does not cite Wildberger's ARD interview.
- Charged language
- “Mercenary”“government-backed spyware”
- For example
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“Wildberger did not provide any further information on specific details. At the same time, he expressed concern about the reports.” — Anadolu Agency
“The episode highlights again the murky business behind a growing number of attacks against members of civil society.” — TechCrunch
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Apple sent threat notifications to members of the Bundestag and other officials or notable people in Germany.
- The BSI advises recipients to assume their devices may have been compromised.
- The origin of the attacks and the responsible party are not known.
- Apple's notifications do not say whether an attack succeeded.
Federal Office for Information Security organisation
The BSI informed those affected in writing, says it has no further information on the cause, and advises treating devices as possibly compromised.
““We currently have no further information regarding the specific cause or background of the notifications,” the BSI said.” — Anadolu Agency
Apple organisation
Apple's threat notifications are described as highly reliable warnings of specific targeting; Apple does not attribute attacks to governments or say if they succeeded.
“Apple describes its threat notifications as highly reliable warnings that a person has been specifically targeted.” — Anadolu Agency
Germany place
The German government says it is taking the incident very seriously but has not said who was targeted.
“taking the incident and the warning very seriously” — TechCrunch
Middle East1 outlet
Anadolu focuses on the German minister's statement and official response.
“The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) reacted quickly and informed all those affected in writing, according to Wildberger.” — Anadolu Agency
Anadolu Agency
North America1 outlet
TechCrunch frames it as part of a global wave of spyware targeting and the mercenary spyware trade.
“Others outside of Germany also received the recent threat alert from Apple.” — TechCrunch
TechCrunch
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre3 articles
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Hackers target German lawmakers’ and government officials’ devices: Minister
Neutral Short report built on the minister's ARD remarks and the BSI letter, with a definition of spyware.
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Germany says lawmakers’ iPhones may have been hacked with spyware
Mixed Security-news analysis placing the warnings in the commercial spyware industry, calling the spyware government-backed while saying the culprit is unknown.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Nov 23:04 First Anadolu AgencyN Hackers target German lawmakers’ and government officials’ devices: Minister
- 2 Nov 18:10 +19h 6m Anadolu AgencyN Apple sends spyware alerts to German delegation accompanying Merz on Asia trip
- 2 Nov 19:45 +20h 42m TechCrunchN Germany says lawmakers’ iPhones may have been hacked with spyware
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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