A new chapter is unfolding in Barcelona in a high-profile digital espionage case. For the first time in Spanish history, a local court has launched an official investigation into former leaders of the Guardia Civil, who are suspected of surveilling Catalan independence supporters using the Israeli spyware Pegasus.
At the center of the investigation are two former heads of the agency: Félix Vicente Azón, who served from 2018 to 2020, and his successor María Gámez, who led the institution until 2023. Also under investigation is former head of the National Intelligence Center (CNI) Paz Esteban, who has previously been summoned to court on similar cases, as well as several top executives from the Israeli company NSO Group, the creators of Pegasus.
Judge Miriam de Rosa Palacio has accepted a complaint alleging that the suspects’ actions may fall under articles on unlawful access to computer systems and the disclosure of information. As a result, preliminary investigative measures have been initiated to clarify the circumstances of the case. Among the claimants is a group of tech specialists and entrepreneurs who united under the name Sentinel. They allege they were surveilled not only via Pegasus, but also through other software, such as Candiru.
Among the measures demanded by the claimants are the declassification of documents related to the use of Pegasus and Candiru, as well as the submission to the court of any permits granted for such operations. In addition, all individuals involved in the case are expected to be questioned, and experts from Mossos d’Esquadra will be tasked with conducting a technical examination of devices to confirm or refute the surveillance allegations.
Paz Esteban is expected to appear in court again soon—this time in connection with the possible surveillance of members of the ERC party. In July of last year, she was already named as a suspect in another episode involving Pegasus, along with three executives of NSO Group and the company itself.
The investigation promises to become one of the most high-profile in Spain’s recent history, as for the first time, both intelligence services and security forces are under judicial scrutiny. In the coming months, the court will have to determine who authorized the use of spyware against political opponents and under whose instructions.
