A Tech Firm Has Blocked Some Governments From Using Its Spyware Over Misuse Claims

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/29/ [login to see] /nso-suspended-govvernment-contracts-spyware-pegasus-project
Israeli spyware company NSO Group has temporarily blocked several government clients around the world from using its technology as the company investigates their possible misuse, a company employee told NPR on Thursday.

The suspensions are in response to an investigation by the Pegasus Project, a consortium of media outlets that reported the company's Pegasus spyware was linked to hacks and potential surveillance of telephones of people including journalists, human rights activists and heads of state.

The company has been under scrutiny in the wake of the reports. The Israeli government has also faced pressure since it regulates the sale of spyware technology to other countries. Now the company says it has suspended some clients' access to its technology.

"There is an investigation into some clients. Some of those clients have been temporarily suspended," said the source in the company, who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity because company policy states that NSO "will no longer be responding to media inquiries on this matter and it will not play along with the vicious and slanderous campaign."