In a startling revelation that exposes the vulnerability of even the most prominent public figures, former US Congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has confirmed she was targeted by a sophisticated state-sponsored spyware attack.
The alarming security breach came to light through a direct warning from Apple, who notified Gabbard that her iPhone had likely been compromised by "mercenary spyware" attackers. This specific category of digital threat is typically deployed by state actors against high-value targets like journalists, activists, and politicians.
A Chilling Warning and Political Context
Gabbard, who served in the Hawaii Army National Guard and sat on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, received the ominous notification from Apple on Tuesday. The timing raises particularly disturbing questions, as the former Democratic representative suggested the attack may be connected to her recent public criticisms of US intelligence agencies.
"This is a warning to all Americans: regardless of your political views, if you dare to speak truth to power, to challenge the establishment, the military-industrial complex, the intelligence community, then you are a target," Gabbard stated in a powerful video message addressing the incident.
Apple's Protocol and the Growing Threat
Apple's threat notifications are not issued lightly. The tech giant maintains that it relies on internal intelligence-led investigations to detect such attacks and only contacts a small number of users who may have been individually targeted. The company emphasises that these alerts are high-confidence and indicate extreme danger to the recipient.
This incident forms part of a worrying pattern of digital espionage against political figures. Notably, several staffers in the UK's Prime Minister Office received similar warnings from Apple last year, highlighting that this threat transcends international borders and political systems.
The Broader Implications for Democracy and Free Speech
Gabbard's case strikes at the heart of democratic principles and free speech protections. The targeting of a former presidential candidate and sitting congresswoman for her political views represents an unprecedented escalation in digital surveillance tactics.
"They will come after you, they will work to silence you, to threaten you, and to undermine your ability to be an effective leader and voice for the people," Gabbard warned, framing the attack as not just personal but as an assault on democratic discourse itself.
As governments and tech companies grapple with the escalating sophistication of state-sponsored cyber attacks, the targeting of Tulsi Gabbard serves as a stark reminder that no one—regardless of position or platform—is beyond the reach of these digital threats.
