Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Eslami: Our colleagues' morale at nuclear facilities excellent, carrying out their duties with dedication.
AEOI chief Eslami: Let the enemies know that this aggressive policy will never bear fruit.
AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami: Our people, the people of strength and pride, have not folded under pressure and will never surrender.
Israeli media: Warnings of a drone infiltration in southern [occupied] Golan.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 11 martyrs, more than 100 injured in IOF bombing of aid seekers, central Gaza Strip.
Mehr News Agency: Cell was planning to execute terrorist operations in crowded areas in Tehran, their plan was foiled.
Mehr News Agency: Confrontations between security forces, gunmen thought to be connected to Israeli intelligence in Rey, south of Tehran.
Official in Varamin, southeast Tehran: Air defenses have destroyed another F-35.
Israeli Health Ministry: 94 injured taken to hospitals last night as a result of Iranian missiles.
Informed source to Al Mayadeen: Over 270 martyred since start of Israeli aggression on Iran

House hearing highlights US concerns about Israeli NSO Group spyware

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Aug 2022 23:17
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Lawmakers express willingness to withdraw funds from countries that use commercial spyware.

  • x
  • House hearing highlights US concerns about Israeli NSO group spyware.
    House hearing highlights US concerns about Israeli NSO group spyware.

At a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday, the Committee examined NSO Group, the Israeli tech company responsible for the Pegasus spyware that has been used by governments to spy on activists, journalists, political leaders, and US residents.

The hearing featured testimony from John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto's cyber-focused Citizen Lab; Shane Huntley, the head of Google's security unit; and Carine Kanimba, an activist who was targeted with Pegasus while lobbying Rwanda to release her father, activist Paul Rusesabagina.

There was a rare bipartisan agreement among senators that malware and its developers represent grave hazards.

Read next: EU finds signs of Israeli spyware use on top official phones: Letter

In reaction to Kanimba's comments underscoring Rwanda's reliance on US aid and the fact that foreign aid accounts for a large portion of the country's budget, some senators expressed willingness to leverage money to countries that employ spyware.

“We’re doing this because we’re trying to figure out what our response may be, and you gave me an idea,” Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) said. “It seems to me that the principle of if you attack our people with these surveillance tools… maybe not just our people, but civilians or anyone else, you will not get one red cent from the American taxpayer.”

Google's Huntley pushed federal officials to work to demonize organizations like NSO.

Related News

The Guardian: Zelensky leaves G7 empty-handed on US arms

US Syria withdrawal worrying SDF: Reuters

“Drawing attention where we can to who we consider these threats are… that sends a lot of messages [s],” he said. “I think it is about incentives as well. I think one of the incentives that I’ve been pushing when I’ve been speaking externally is talent. I want to make it so… you really think twice before accepting a job with someone like NSO and you do something more productive with your life.”

Read next: Over 30 Thai activists hacked by Israeli spyware Pegasus

Huntley also said he found it “difficult to believe” that NSO does not have access to data collected by its clients, noting the company’s “conflicting claims” that it strictly controls the use of its technology but also has no visibility into its use.

NSO in the US?

NSO, for example, asserts that their software cannot be utilized on devices situated in the United States, although there have been multiple cases when it has been, notably Kanimba.

Scott-Railton submitted a number of policy recommendations to the Committee, including urging the US to increase diplomatic pressure on countries that operate as "safe havens" for spyware corporations, such as "Israel".

“When it comes to Israel, they have an export control authority. That authority has authorized many of the sales that have led to these problematic cases, and so I think there too, there is an opportunity for diplomatic engagement and pressure,” he said. 

Read next: FBI intended to use Israeli spyware Pegasus for operations: NYT

Scott-Railton also asked the US to take efforts to combat spyware firms, including prohibiting spyware companies from doing business with the US government or being acquired by US institutions, as well as expanding accountability measures in collaboration with allies.

He also hailed the United States' decision to include NSO on the "entities list" of corporations participating in actions that are contrary to US national security and foreign policy. According to Scott-Railton, this decision has scared off potential NSO investors and put the company in a "tailspin".

  • United States
  • NSO Group
  • NSO spyware firm
  • Pegasus

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Turkish Air Force pilot gestures from the cockpit of an F-16 military fighter jet before an Air Policing exercise at the Baza 86 military air base, outside Fetesti, Romania, Wednesday, March 6, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Israeli aircraft violate Turkish airspace, fighter jets scrambled

An Israeli occupation forces armored personnel carrier maneuvers in the Gaza Strip, southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian resistance downs Israeli drone in Gaza amid extensive ops

An Israeli Hermes 450 UAV drone flies over Beirut, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Politics

Iran reports shooting down 28 types of hostile aircraft in 24 hours

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze after a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran retaliatory strikes target greater Tel Aviv as injuries reported

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS