Israeli Government Seizes Documents from NSO Group

Recent leaks reveal that the Israeli government took significant steps to obstruct a lawsuit in the US against NSO Group, the maker of the controversial Pegasus spyware. Israeli officials seized documents from NSO in July 2020 to prevent the company from complying with WhatsApp's legal demands regarding the spyware, which has been implicated in numerous human rights abuses. The lawsuit alleges that NSO exploited vulnerabilities in WhatsApp to target over 1,400 users across 20 countries, a claim NSO denies. The seized documents suggest a coordinated effort between NSO and the Israeli government to conceal information that could have serious diplomatic implications. The revelations have surfaced after a consortium of media organizations obtained a secret court order related to the seizure. This situation highlights the intertwined interests of the Israeli government and NSO, raising concerns over transparency and accountability in the use of surveillance technology.