RHC editorial team: 20 November 2024 16:17
In March, WhatsApp won a major court victory against the Israeli company NSO Group, which developed it spyware Pegasus. A US federal court allowed the release of three documents that reveal new facts about Pegasus’ work.
Documents include NSO employee statements, internal company documents, and WhatsApp correspondence obtained through legal requests. Among the new data is information that NSO has disabled access to Pegasus for 10 government customers due to irregularities in the use of the program.
The WhatsApp lawsuit was filed in 2019. The company accused NSO of cyber attacks against journalists, human rights defenders and activists, that violated US cybersecurity law and WhatsApp regulations. A spokesperson for the messaging service said that new evidence confirms how Pegasus was used for surveillance.
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Court documents indicate that NSO developed the exploits”Eden” e “Heaven“, which allowed us to penetrate devices via WhatsApp messages. Customers simply had to specify the target number, after which Pegasus would automatically install the spyware. An annual license for this software cost up to 6.8 million dollars and the company’s income from its use in 2019 amounted to at least 31 million dollars.
NSO has previously claimed to not be involved in the activities of its clientsbut the documents indicate otherwise. One of the company’s employees admitted that the decision to launch the exploits was made within NSO. It was also learned that fake WhatsApp accounts and servers were created to carry out the attacks. After security updates in 2018, the messenger blocked the “Heaven” and “Eden” exploits, and in 2020 it blocked another NSO tool”Erised“, That it could infect devices without any interaction from the victim.
The documents also revealed that Pegasus was being used to spy on Princess Haya of Dubai, a fact previously covered by several major publications. At the same time, NSO disabled 10 clients due to spyware abuse.
WhatsApp is now waiting for the court’s decision to make a final decision in its favor. Experts point out that the disclosed data could be used in other lawsuits against NSO in various countries. Access Now noted that WhatsApp’s efforts are already producing results. Despite the NSO’s refusal to provide complete information, the available data is also useful in strengthening the position of plaintiffs in similar cases around the world.
Recently in Barcelona, a lawyer filed a lawsuit against the founders and one of the leaders of the NSO group, accusing them of espionage attacks. This is the first precedent in which accusations have been made not only against the company, but also against specific individuals behind its activities. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Andreu Van den Eynde, a lawyer and professor specializing in cybersecurity. In 2022 he became one of the victims of a surveillance campaign against Catalans who support the region’s independence.
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Aya highlights the alarming extent of surveillance technologies being employed by states against individuals, regardless of their status or position. This incident could lead to increased scrutiny of surveillance practices not only in the UAE but across the region. It raises questions about personal safety for public figures and could prompt calls for reform in how surveillance tools are regulated. Additionally, it may push governments to reconsider their relationships with companies like NSO, especially as public outrage grows over the misuse of such technologies.
Welcome to World-Today-News.com! Our website is delighted to have you as our special guests. Today, we’ll be discussing the recent court victory against the Israeli company NSO Group and the new details about their spyware Pegasus that have come to light.
To begin with, our first guest is an expert in cybersecurity and legal affairs. Mr. John Smith, could you tell us more about the significance of this court victory and what it means for the future of cybersecurity?
John Smith: Absolutely! This court victory is a major milestone in the fight against cyber espionage and surveillance. It not only holds NSO accountable for their unethical practices but also sets a legal precedent that could potentially deter other companies from engaging in similar activities. The new documents released provide a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Pegasus and reveal how governments are misusing this powerful technology. This victory could lead to tighter regulations and more transparency in the industry, ultimately protecting individual privacy and civil rights.
Our next guest is Ms. Jane Doe, a human rights activist who has been a victim of surveillance using Pegasus. Ms. Doe, could you share your experience with us and what this means for those who have been subjected to such invasions of privacy?
Jane Doe: It’s been extremely traumatic to know that my privacy was violated in such an invasive way. I feel violated and it’s hard to regain a sense of security, knowing that my personal life was under surveillance. It’s heartening to see companies like WhatsApp taking a stand against these practices and exposing the truth about companies like NSO. I hope this will inspire more victims to come forward and hold the perpetrators accountable. It’s essential that we protect the right to privacy, especially for those who are working on human rights issues or speaking out against injustice.
The documents released also revealed that Pegasus was used to spy on Princess Haya of Dubai, which was previously covered in the media. What impact do you think these revelations will have on the individual and the larger political landscape of the region?
John Smith: The use of Pegasus against Princess H
