NSO Group Israeli Surveillance Software Lawsuit Goes Behind Closed Doors

A Tel Aviv District Court judge cited national security concerns when she banned the public and the media from court sessions, drawing quick condemnation from the campaign group.

By Reuters | Updated: 17 January 2020 20:29 IST

NSO Group Israeli Surveillance Software Lawsuit Goes Behind Closed Doors

NSO Group's cellphone hacking software, Pegasus, is said to have been used for surveillance

Highlights

A Citizen Lab study traced the software's use for surveillance in Mexico
NSO says it sells the tech to help fight terrorism and serious crime
Pegasus was reportedly used to crack down on activists across the globe

An Israeli court on Thursday ordered closed-door hearings in Amnesty International's legal bid to stop NSO Group exporting surveillance software, which rights groups say is used to spy on journalists and dissidents worldwide.

A Tel Aviv District Court judge cited national security concerns when she banned the public and the media from court sessions, drawing quick condemnation from the campaign group.

"It's outrageous we have to be gagged," Gil Naveh, an Amnesty spokesman, told reporters.

What Is Pegasus Spyware That Allegedly Targeted Indians on WhatsApp?

Israel's defence ministry - which asked for the court restrictions - and NSO declined to comment on Amnesty's lawsuit, which could decide whether the government needs tougher oversight on cyber exports - a sector in which Israel is a world leader.

Amnesty says governments have used the Israeli company's cellphone hacking software, Pegasus, to crack down on activists across the world. A study by University of Toronto's Citizen Lab has linked it to political surveillance in Mexico, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

NSO has said it only sells its technology to state and law enforcement agencies "to help them fight terrorism and serious crime".

Government Plans Security Audit of WhatsApp After Hacking Attempt

Judge Rachel Barkai initially had said she would allow Amnesty's arguments to be heard publicly but government lawyers argued it would then look as if the state was admitting to Amnesty's accusations and Barkai changed her mind.

NSO came under particular scrutiny when a Saudi dissident close to murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi filed a lawsuit alleging that NSO had helped the royal court to take over his smartphone and spy on his communications with Khashoggi.

NSO has denied that its technology was used in Khashoggi's murder.

WhatsApp Users Ask Centre to Explain Ties With Israeli Firm in Hacking Case

In October, WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, sued NSO in the US federal court in San Francisco, accusing it of helping government spies break into the phones of about 1,400 users across four continents.

NSO, which was purchased by London-based private equity firm Novalpina Capital last year, announced in September it would begin abiding by UN guidelines on human rights abuses.

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.