Pegasus creator NSO Group has contracts with 12 EU nations: report

Jerusalem: Israeli technology firm NSO Group allegedly has at least 22 contracts in 12 of the 27 member nations of the European Union. The software maker became infamous after the leak related to its controversial spyware Pegasus.

NSO Group's products enable their customers to hack mobile phones and implement surveillance. The spyware will infect the devices and enable the operator to eavesdrop on conversations and encrypted chats in real-time. It will also provide total access to contacts and files on the device.

The number of contracts in EU nations came to light when representatives of the European Parliament Committee of Inquiry on Pegasus spyware visited NSO personnel in Israel. The Committee's representatives visited Israel in recent weeks "to learn in-depth about the local cyber warfare industry" and are said to have been surprised to discover contracts.

The replies of the Israeli cyber warfare company to the committee's questions, which were obtained by the newspaper, reveal that the company is now working with 22 security and enforcement organisations in the EU, reported Ha'aretz.

NSO has maintained that its spyware is sued by government clients to target terrorists and other criminals.

The report further said that 14 EU countries have done business with NSO in the past and 12 of them are still using Pegasus for lawful interception of calls. In some countries, there is more than one client as they are with operating organisations.

Israel's government has distanced itself from NSO Group saying it is a private company and has nothing to do with the policies of the nation.