Former minister targeted by spyware

The former Minister for Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, was the target of an attack using a spyware application, according to recent reports. She filed a complaint with France’s domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, at the end of September after receiving an alert on her iPhone.

Alerts from Apple indicate targeted attacks

Apple sent her a notification on August 13, which Politico obtained and reviewed, stating that her device had been targeted by a "mercenary software." She had previously received similar alerts in March and April 2025, when she was still serving as a minister.

Personal devices under scrutiny

Pannier-Runacher told Le Monde that each time, it was her personal devices that were targeted. However, the DGSI had not confirmed any successful infection of the devices at the time of the alerts.

Investigation into multiple attacks

The three alerts have been grouped into a single investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office, even though Apple indicated they corresponded to distinct attacks. Investigators have not yet identified the specific spyware used but have ruled out Pegasus, a well-known spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO.

No confirmed infection found

Pannier-Runacher stated in an interview with Le Monde that initial analyses suggest no infection occurred. She emphasized that being targeted by spyware does not necessarily mean that the attack was successful.