Colombia has been suspended from the Egmont Group, a global anti-money laundering organization, after President Gustavo Petro publicly revealed confidential information obtained from the group. This decision, announced on Monday, cuts Colombia off from the Egmont Group’s secure information-sharing platform, used by 177 member countries to combat financial crimes. The suspension is expected to remain in place while the organization investigates the situation further.

The controversy began earlier in September when Petro disclosed sensitive data during a televised speech. The information, sourced from the Egmont Group, alleged that in 2021, the Colombian government under former President Iván Duque paid $11 million to an Israeli company for the Pegasus spyware. Pegasus is a sophisticated surveillance software that can monitor phone activities, including accessing cameras and microphones. Petro claimed that the spyware had been used to spy on activists and political opponents, including himself, during Duque’s presidency. These claims have been denied by officials from Duque’s administration.

The revelation of this information sparked concern, as Pegasus has been widely criticized for being used by various governments to target human rights activists, journalists, and politicians. According to a 2021 report by Amnesty International, the spyware has been linked to surveillance efforts affecting over 50,000 individuals worldwide.

The suspension from the Egmont Group is considered a significant setback for Colombia’s efforts in combating money laundering and tracking illegal financial transactions. Analysts warn that the nation’s ability to detect and fight financial crimes, including those tied to drug trafficking and other criminal organizations, has been weakened by this development.

Despite these concerns, President Petro has defended his decision to declassify the sensitive information, stating that it was in the interest of national transparency. In a post on social media, he remarked, “This is the price of truth,” asserting that Colombians deserve to know about the actions of the previous administration regarding the acquisition and use of Pegasus.

While the Egmont Group investigates, Colombia remains without access to vital global intelligence sharing, a blow to its security apparatus as it continues to combat organized crime.