Spyware by Israel's NSO Used Against Journalist: Amnesty

Amnesty said the Moroccan authorities used NSO's Pegasus software to insert spyware onto the cellphone of Omar Radi, a Moroccan journalist convicted.

By Agence France-Presse | Updated: 22 June 2020 17:25 IST

Spyware by Israel's NSO Used Against Journalist: Amnesty

Omar Radi, the journalist who was allegedly spied on using NSO Group's Pegasus spyware

Highlights

NSO Group said that it was "deeply troubled by the allegations"
The hacking of Radi's phone continued until at least January
NSO couldn't comment on any relationship with Moroccan authorities

Amnesty International said Monday that software developed by Israeli security firm NSO Group was used to attack a Moroccan journalist, the latest in a series of allegations against the company.

The Israeli firm told AFP that it was "deeply troubled by the allegations" and was reviewing the information.

Amnesty said the Moroccan authorities used NSO's Pegasus software to insert spyware onto the cellphone of Omar Radi, a journalist convicted in March over a social media post.

NSO Group Israeli Surveillance Software Lawsuit Goes Behind Closed Doors

Pegasus is reportedly a highly invasive tool that can switch on a target's phone camera and microphone as well as access data on it, effectively turning the phone into a pocket spy.

"The attacks occurred over a period when Radi was being repeatedly harassed by the Moroccan authorities, with one attack taking place just days after NSO pledged to stop its products being used in human rights abuses," Amnesty said in a statement.

The hacking of Radi's phone continued until at least January, the London-based rights group said.

The Israeli firm said it could not comment on "any relationship NSO Group might have with Moroccan authorities" due to confidentiality, but that it was looking into the concerns raised by Amnesty.

The company told AFP that it would "initiate an investigation if warranted".

Amnesty said that Radi had been "systematically targeted by the Moroccan authorities due to his journalism and activism".

In March, a Moroccan court gave him a four-month suspended sentence for criticising a judge in a tweet. He told AFP at the time that he would appeal the verdict.

Amnesty has petitioned an Israeli court to revoke NSO's defence ministry export licence due to multiple hacking allegations.

The case is ongoing and Amnesty said Monday it expected a judgement "soon".

NSO is being sued in the United States by messaging service WhatsApp over alleged cyber-espionage on human rights activists, and others.

The Israeli firm says it only licenses its software to governments for "fighting crime and terror" and that it investigates credible allegations of misuse.

However, the company has been in the headlines since 2016 when researchers accused it of helping spy on an activist in the United Arab Emirates.

Founded in 2010 by Israelis Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie, NSO Group is based in the Israeli hi-tech hub of Herzliya, near Tel Aviv. It says it employs 600 people in Israel and around the world.

Is Mi Notebook 14 series the best affordable laptop range for India? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.