Pegasus Spyware Maker Fights to Return to the US Market

The Israeli company NSO Group, known for developing the infamous Pegasus spyware, has ramped up efforts to re-enter the American market by seeking removal from the US Department of Commerce’s blacklist, according to The Intercept. Despite accusations of facilitating human rights abuses, NSO has hired prominent lobbyists and is working closely with Republican lawmakers, particularly Pete Sessions from Texas.

Sanctions against NSO were imposed in 2021 due to its involvement in surveillance operations targeting journalists, human rights activists, and dissidents. Nevertheless, from February to July of this year, the company’s lobbyists met with Sessions and his team eight times to discuss issues related to the blacklist, the promotion of NSO’s technologies, and their potential role in conflicts such as the war in Gaza.

A key part of NSO’s current strategy is lobbying through financial contributions. For example, the company’s attorney and lobbyist Greg Laughlin donated $1,000 to Sessions’ campaign on the same day he discussed spyware and its use with him. Reports indicate that similar donations have been made to other Republican lawmakers.

NSO is also engaged in ongoing legal battles with major US tech companies, including Meta. In October of this year, Meta accused NSO of refusing to provide the court with documents and the Pegasus source code, violating data disclosure obligations. WhatsApp (owned by Meta) insists that NSO is deliberately evading court orders, making a fair trial impossible.

Despite these allegations, NSO continues its lobbying campaign, using the active military situation in Israel as a pretext for lifting sanctions. The company claims its technologies could help track missing persons and hostages. However, experts see this as an attempt at “crisis reputation laundering.”

NSO has faced challenges not only in the US but also in the UK, where courts have allowed a lawsuit against Saudi Arabia for using Pegasus. This lawsuit was filed on behalf of Saudi human rights activists whose phones were hacked while in the UK.

Despite mounting criticism and numerous lawsuits, NSO Group continues its attempts to bring its products back to the US market through political connections and high-level lobbying.