Israel’s NSO Group launches defamation suit against Calcalist daily The company is demanding one million shekels in compensation for the newspaper’s “unilateral, biased and false report” alleging police misuse of the company’s spyware. Feb. 28, 2022
Illegal police surveillance ‘will not go unanswered,’ says Bennett “Mass privacy violation is nothing short of lawlessness, and it must end today,” says Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked following media reports of rampant police abuse of NSO Group's notorious Pegasus spyware. Feb. 7, 2022
NSO Group said to have offered ‘bags of cash’ for access to global cell networks An official with the Israeli cyber firm allegedly made the offer in a video call with American mobile-security firm Mobileum, The Washington Post reports; NSO denies doing business with Mobelium, or with cash. Damian Pachter Feb. 2, 2022
Finland says Pegasus spyware found on diplomats’ phones The espionage effort targeted Finnish diplomats posted overseas, and is “no longer active,” says Finland's Foreign Ministry. Jan. 30, 2022
Israeli minister denies police abuse of NSO spyware against citizens “I can tell you that all the examinations ... other than the fact that the police use advanced technologies, turned out to [reveal that the accusations are] incorrect,” says Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev. Jan. 23, 2022
Israel Police said to use NSO spyware against citizens, without warrants NSO Group's notorious Pegasus software was reportedly used to spy on anti-Netanyahu protesters, mayors and government employees • The Israel Police have denied the allegations. Jan. 19, 2022
Democratic lawmakers call for sanctions against Israeli cyber-firm NSO Group “These surveillance mercenaries sold their services to authoritarian regimes with long records of human-rights abuses, giving vast spying powers to tyrants,” says Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Dec. 15, 2021
US blacklists Israeli cyber-surveillance companies NSO Group and Candiru “We are not taking action against countries or governments where these entities are located,” said the U.S. government in a statement. Nov. 3, 2021
Iran, spyware-abuse topics of Bennett-Macron meeting at climate summit The Israeli prime minister and French president agreed to handle the investigation into allegations of digital espionage “discreetly and professionally, and with the spirit of transparency between the two sides.” Nov. 2, 2021
