Cyberespionage: Washington blacklists Israeli software Pegasus

Published on : 11/03/2021 – 17:51

The US Department of Commerce announced on Wednesday (November 3) that it had added NSO Group, the Israeli company that manufactures Pegasus spy software, to its list of banned companies because they pose a threat to national security. United States.

A decision to which the Israeli group NSO, designer of the spyware Pegasus, said it was “appalled”. “The NSO group is appalled by the decision” by the United States and “will work to ensure that this decision is changed,” a spokesperson for the company based in the suburbs of Tel Aviv told AFP. Aviv and who claims to have a “rigorous ethical charter based on American values”.

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“We intend to present all the information showing that we have the most rigorous human rights compliance and (respect) programs and which are based on the American values ​​that we deeply cherish,” added the spokesperson. word.

According to him, these standards have led to “numerous” cancellations of contracts with government agencies having “diverted (their) products” from their initial objective.

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The Pegasus software, sold to foreign governments with the approval of the Israeli Defense Force, allows you to retrieve messages, photos, contacts, and remotely activate the microphones of a smartphone.

The NSO group and the Israeli authorities believe that this software should only be used for counterterrorism activities or against criminals.

Pegasus case

But NSO found itself exposed this summer after investigations published by a consortium of 17 international media outlets, revealing that its Pegasus software could have spied on the numbers of journalists, politicians, activists or business leaders in different countries, including including French President Emmanuel Macron.

According to the US Department of Commerce, this computer program has enabled “foreign governments to carry out repression beyond their borders (…) to silence any dissonant voice”.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had also discussed Monday in Glasgow, on the sidelines of the climate conference, with Emmanuel Macron of the NSO company, according to a diplomatic source in Jerusalem.

“The two leaders agreed on the fact that this issue must continue to be treated in a discreet and professional manner, and in the interests of transparency between the parties,” according to this source.

On Sunday, NSO announced that its founder Shalev Hulio was stepping down from his role as CEO to become “global chairman” and vice chairman of the board. He is replaced by Isaac Benbenisti.

With AFP and Reuters