Abhisit Vejjajiva acknowledged that Apple sent him an alert indicating his personal iPhone was targeted by Pegasus spyware. He confirmed that initial checks found no evidence of data intrusion and expressed hope that the government is not involved in this rights violation.
At 14:30 on 2 Nov 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Abhisit Vejjajiva, a party-list MP and leader of the Democrat Party, spoke about cybersecurity after former Songkhla MP Sirichok Sopa revealed that Abhisit's personal phone was targeted by spyware aiming to steal data. Abhisit said he received a threat alert from Apple stating his iPhone was targeted by Pegasus spyware, a type reportedly purchased and used by government agencies. The alert suggested the targeting was likely due to his professional role and duties. After receiving the warning, Abhisit had the phone preliminarily checked with experts experienced in similar attacks. The initial inspection found no signs of successful hacking or damage. A deeper investigation is pending. Meanwhile, he activated 'Lockdown Mode' for security. After no initial abnormalities were detected, he resumed normal use but acknowledged the need for increased caution.
When asked whether the attempted data breach was linked to preparations for a no-confidence debate against ministers or related to his oversight duties, Abhisit said perceptions vary. Many who know the situation question why it occurred now. Personally, he is not worried as most of his communications are already public. He plans to have the phone more thoroughly examined later. Asked if he wanted government agencies to assist in the investigation, Abhisit declined, stating that the government’s main responsibility is to ensure cybersecurity for citizens. Crucially, he expects no state involvement in illegal acts or violations of personal rights. He also noted that all opposition party members understand that oversight roles can make them targets for such attacks.