NSO Group controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile6 entries
2022
Reports allege Israeli police used NSO spyware on citizens
Issue disclosure
Reports alleged that Israeli police used NSO Group's Pegasus spyware on Israeli citizens. The article presents this as an allegation, not a determination that the claim was proven.
Source excerpt
Allegations have surfaced that the Israeli police have used NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware on Israeli citizens.
2021
Pegasus Project investigations
A consortium of media organizations and researchers examined leaked data indicating that numerous phone numbers had been selected for potential surveillance using Pegasus or related systems.
2021
U.S. sanctions and regulatory action
The United States added NSO to its Entity List, citing risks to national security and foreign policy associated with spyware misuse.
2021
NSO Group responds to allegations about Pegasus
Company response
NSO Group denied claims linking names on a reported list to Pegasus targets and said it would no longer respond to media inquiries on the matter. It said it would investigate credible proof of misuse and shut down the system where necessary.
Company response
Denial — NSO Group
The list is not a list of targets or potential targets of Pegasus.
Source excerpt
The list is not a list of targets or potential targets of Pegasus.
NSO will thoroughly investigate any credible proof of misuse of its technologies, as we always had, and will shut down the system where necessary.
NSO is announcing it will no longer be responding to media inquiries on this matter and it will not play along with the vicious and slanderous campaign.
2019
WhatsApp sues NSO Group over alleged phone hacking
Lawsuit filed
WhatsApp sued NSO Group, accusing it of helping government spies hack the phones of roughly 1,400 users. WhatsApp also alleged that NSO facilitated government hacking in 20 countries; NSO denied the allegations. The source provides no publication date to resolve the stated weekday.
Company response
Denial — NSO
Ongoing disclosure — WhatsApp
WhatsApp said the company sent a warning note to all the affected 1,400 users impacted by this attack, directly informing them about what happened.
Source excerpt
WhatsApp sued Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group on Tuesday, accusing it of helping government spies break into the phones of roughly 1,400 users across four continents in a hacking spree whose targets included diplomats, political dissidents, journalists and senior government officials.
WhatsApp said the attack exploited its video calling system in order to send malware to the mobile devices of a number of users.
Then, the Pegasus's users can remotely surveil the iPhone owner's activities, including by accessing the device's microphone and camera, and collect emails, text messages, and browsing history, Apple alleged in its lawsuit.
2016
Alleged targeting of activists and journalists
Research and reporting identified suspected Pegasus targeting of civil-society figures, journalists, and political critics in multiple countries, challenging NSO’s claims about responsible government use.