US government blacklists Israeli spyware company NSO Group for national security risks

The US government has placed Israeli spyware company NSO Group on its blacklist, citing national security concerns over the company’s practices. The US Commerce Department’s decision marks a significant step in holding NSO accountable for its spyware, Pegasus, which has been accused of being used by foreign governments to target journalists, dissidents, diplomats, and other individuals of interest.

The move reflects serious concern from the Biden administration about the growing use of spyware and its potential to undermine US foreign policy and security. NSO Group’s spyware, Pegasus, has been linked to various international incidents, with clients in countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Hungary, and India allegedly using it to surveil critics and activists.

This designation puts NSO Group on the same blacklist as Chinese and Russian hackers, severely affecting its international business. The blacklisting comes three months after a major journalistic investigation, led by Forbidden Stories, exposed how NSO’s tools were used to hack the phones of journalists, including some American citizens.