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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.
Syria: Local sources report that General Security forces targeted the camp of French fighters from the 'al-Ghuraba division' in the Idlib countryside with mortar and tank shells.
Syria: Local sources report a general military mobilization of foreign fighters in Idlib following armed clashes in the “French Camp” in the Idlib countryside.
Syria: Local sources report that International Coalition forces carried out an airdrop operation on a house in the village of al-Kassar, eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
Local sources: 3 killed, 7 injured in attack on transport bus in Idlib countryside, Syria
The 'French faction' in Idlib announces that Syrian security forces are preparing to attack its camp amid accusations that it is collaborating with ISIS.
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria

'Israel' pushing US to remove NSO from blacklist

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Jun 2022 08:32
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

According to Israeli and American officials, Israeli authorities are urging the Biden administration to remove Israeli cyber surveillance firm NSO from the Department of Commerce blacklist.

  • x
  • Israelis pushing US to remove NSO from blacklist
    NSO spyware

According to two Israeli officials and one US official, Israeli authorities are urging the Biden administration to remove Israeli cyber surveillance firm NSO from the Department of Commerce blacklist.

When the US blacklisted NSO last year, it stated that the corporation had sold software to other countries, which had been used to "maliciously attack" government officials, journalists, businesses, activists, academics, and diplomatic personnel.

It was the first time the US government targeted Israeli cyber firms, which are granted export permits by the Israeli Security Ministry.

Removing NSO from the US blacklist would be a radical US government reversal, and it would almost certainly be opposed by progressives in the Democratic Party and Congress, as well as many in the cybersecurity sector.

According to a US source and two Israeli officials, the Biden administration is examining the Israeli proposal. Another US official, though, disputed that the administration is contemplating it.

NSO Group has been embroiled in a seemingly never-ending spate of extremely prominent controversies. Revelations that it sells its powerful Pegasus spyware to authoritarian regimes, that its products have been used to spy on journalists, activists, politicians, and even potentially world leaders, and accusations that it played a role in Jamal Khashoggi's death have put it at the center of international criticism.

Read more: NSO asked US cell networks for access in exchange for "bags of cash"

Related News

US-led coalition carries out airdrop operation in Eastern Syria

Trump’s $20 bln aid to Argentina sparks backlash among Republicans: FT

Hungary, India, Spain, Mexico, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia are some countries listed in a report last July that details how the spyware was used by governments to spy on journalists and critics.

In March, the European Parliament formulated a special committee to investigate breaches of law after Hungary and Poland reported illegal use of the program by governments. 

After NSO was sanctioned, Israeli authorities debated whether the Israeli government should contact the Biden administration on the company's behalf.

Initially, Israeli authorities decided against it; however, this decision was reversed, and the Israeli government began pressuring the Biden administration on the subject.

"We told the U.S. that they can’t destroy NSO and that several bad clients don’t mean the company’s products and capabilities are no longer needed," a senior Israeli official told Axios.

The Israeli government also urged the Biden administration that before punishing NSO, it should have explained explicitly what needed to be remedied and given the corporation an opportunity to make the modifications.

NSO recruited two legal firms in the US to work on the blacklist problem independently of the Israeli government.

The attorneys filed an appeal with the Department of Commerce and requested a hearing, which has yet to take place.

According to an NSO representative, the correspondence will continue in writing.

According to a US official, the White House is not intervening with the regulatory process in which NSO Group is appealing the listing decision.

  • United States
  • NSO
  • Israel
  • NSO Group
  • Pegasus

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli settler stands over a woman who was harvesting olives after assaulting her, October 19, 2025 (social media)
Politics

West Bank sees 757 Israeli settler attacks in one year

The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a screen showing part of the company website in this photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023 (AP)
Technology

OpenAI unveils new search browser built around chatGPT

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, from right, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen as President Donald Trump meets in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, October 20, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

‘Your mom’ politics take over Trump administration

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during a public address on October 21, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon stability depends on ending Israeli aggression

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