Pegasus spyware US blacklists Israeli firm NSO

(Washington) Washington announced on Wednesday that it has added NSO Group, the Israeli company that makes Pegasus spyware, to its list of companies banned because they pose a threat to US national security. United ; a decision denounced in Tel Aviv.

NSO found itself exposed this summer after investigations published by a consortium of 17 international media revealed that Pegasus could have spied on the numbers of journalists, politicians, activists or business leaders from different countries, including including French President Emmanuel Macron.

These computer programs “have allowed foreign governments to crack down beyond their borders […] to silence any dissenting voices,” US authorities said in a statement.

The Israeli group said it was “appalled” by the decision and intended to reverse it, a spokesman for the company based in the suburbs of Tel Aviv told AFP in a message.

According to him, NSO has a “rigorous code of ethics, based on American values”.

Once installed in a mobile phone, Pegasus makes it possible to spy on its user, accessing his messaging, his data, or activating the device remotely to capture his or her image.

“The United States is committed to using export controls incisively to hold accountable companies that develop, market, or use technologies for malicious purposes, that threaten the cybersecurity of members of civil society or government, dissidents, and organizations based here and abroad,” said US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

The ministry has also added another Israeli company (Candiru), a Russian company (Positive technologies) and a Singaporean company (Computer Security Initiative Consultancy PTE) to this blacklist, which restricts trade with the firms concerned.

Positive technologies said in a statement that this measure would have “little or no effect” on their activities.

“We sincerely believe that geopolitics should not be an obstacle to the technological development of a society,” she added.

Zero clicks

The United States is a great ally of Israel. But US President Joe Biden has indicated that respect for human rights will be at the heart of his foreign policy, and is therefore working to "end the proliferation of digital tools used for the purpose of repression", according to a press release from the department. of state.

“This effort should serve to improve the safety of citizens online, combat cybersecurity threats and reduce illegal surveillance,” detailed a spokesperson.

Pegasus software must, like military hardware, obtain an export license from the Israeli Ministry of Defense in order to be sold to a foreign state.

It is a particularly sophisticated computer program, which notably makes it possible to hack devices without the user having even clicked on trapped links or buttons, the technique usually used.

In September, Apple had to urgently repair a computer flaw that was exploited by Pegasus.

“This decision sends a strong message to NSO that they can no longer continue to profit from human rights abuses without repercussions,” Amnesty International said. The NGO believes that this blacklisting should encourage investors in the group to ask questions about their contribution.

But “these sanctions only act as a brake” for NSO and the other companies targeted, according to Oliver Tavakoli, the chief technology officer of Vectra, a cybersecurity company.

He explains that the contracts between NSO and governments are very vague in terms of ethical provisions, and that most clients "do what they think is in the interest of the government and the leader of the moment".

Pegasus case

In all, according to the Amnesty and Forbidden Stories associations, the Pegasus case concerns a list of 50,000 telephone numbers worldwide selected since 2016 by NSO customers.

Relations between France and Morocco have been parasitized since this summer by these revelations.

According to information from the media consortium, a number of Emmanuel Macron, former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and 14 members of the government were on the list of those targeted by a Moroccan state security service, accused of using spyware.

Rabat has denied having used Pegasus, but several legal proceedings have been initiated.

UN experts have called for an international moratorium on the sale of surveillance technology until rules are in place to protect human rights.

"NSO will continue to equip intelligence and law enforcement agencies around the world with technologies that save lives and help fight crime and terrorism", reacted the Israeli company, which exports in 45 countries.