The CEO of Pegasus-maker NSO Group strongly defended the company’s operations. (Representative)
Jerusalem:
Israel’s beleaguered cybertech company NSO Group has denied wrongdoing as it called its criticism of the Pegasus spyware program’s sales to non-democratic countries “hypocritical”, comparing surveillance technology to military weapons systems being used by others. That is, amid mounting allegations that the software was misused. globally, including in Israel.
Shalev Hulio, an undisputed chief executive of NSO Group, strongly defended the company’s operations in an interview to Israeli Channel 12 on Saturday, although he also acknowledged that some “mistakes” may have occurred over the years.
“I sleep perfectly at night,” Hulio asked the Chanel interviewer if he could do so amid so much criticism around the world.
Hulio’s interview came a day later New York Times report Claims on Friday that India bought Pegasus spyware in 2017 as part of a $2 billion defense deal with Israel sparked a major controversy with the opposition, alleging that the government was involved in illegal espionage that was “treasonable”. ” Is.
“There isn’t a country that we’ve sold, not one … that the US doesn’t sell, or that Israel doesn’t. So it’s a bit hypocritical to say it’s okay to sell F-35s and tanks and drones, but intelligence It’s not fair to sell collecting equipment,” Hulio said defending the company’s position.
He also pointed out that out of around 90 customers who went to him for the technology, he sold only around 40 as per the prescribed norms.
In response to the company’s blacklisting by the US Commerce Department in November, the company’s senior-most executive called it an “outrage” that he expects to be taken down soon.
“Our technology has greatly helped the interests of the United States and national security over the years,” he claimed.
“I think the fact that a company like NSO is on [a US blacklist] There’s an outcry… I’m sure we’ll be taken off that list. I have no doubts,” he said.
The NSO Group and its controversial Pegasus technology, which has drawn the attention of governments and people around the world with allegations of abuse in India, have been blacklisted by the US Commerce Department for acting “contrary to US foreign policy and national security interests”. was put in. “In November last year.
Israel has distanced itself from the controversy arising from the blacklisting of the NSO Group following allegations of illegal use of its Pegasus spyware to target government officials, activists and journalists globally, saying it is a private company and that its policies are not Has nothing to do with. Israeli government.
In India, a controversy erupted last year when Pegasus was allegedly used for targeted surveillance in India. An international investigative association claimed that several Indian ministers, politicians, activists, businessmen and journalists were potentially targeted by the software.
The Indian government, however, denied any allegations of surveillance on its part on specific people.
Last October, the Supreme Court set up a three-member independent expert panel to investigate the alleged use of Pegasus for targeted surveillance in India, noting that the state does not have a “free pass” every time a national security threat arises. and that the judiciary by mere invocation cannot become a “silent spectator” and does not intimidate it.
In his interview, Hulio also denied that Pegasus was used to hack the phone of French President Emmanuel Macron. He denied any connection between the company’s products and the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Gulf Kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
“Blaming everything that happens on the NSO has become a national pastime. A great deal of the reports are simply untrue, riddled with prejudice, and it sure is sometimes infuriating. [me] And sometimes disappoints. But in the end… we know the truth,” the CEO insisted.
When asked whether the NSO group has made mistakes since its inception, he said that “it is impossible not to make a mistake in a period of 12 years, from which you learn”, without sharing any details.
However, he also justified the existence of technology that can help prevent terror and other serious crimes.
On recent reports that Israeli police used Pegasus to spy on civilians, including anti-Benjamin Netanyahu protesters and Israelis not suspected of any crime, he responded that he would like to think they were untrue.
“I, as a citizen, if what is written is true, it concerns me personally. But as a citizen, let me tell you that I trust the Attorney General, the Minister of Public Safety and the Chief of Police. I choose to say over and over again these things never happened,” Hulio replied.
With controversies over the company’s refusal to die, in January Israeli attorney Genera Avichai Mendelbit announced the setting up of a team to investigate the alleged misuse of spy Pegasus technology by Israeli police against its own citizens suspected of a crime. was not.
Israel set up a committee in July last year to review NSO Group’s allegations of misuse of surveillance software and indicated a possible “review of the entire licensing issue”.
Hulio welcomed the move, saying that “they would be very happy if there was an investigation so that we could clear our name”.
He also claimed there was an attempt to “smear the entire Israeli cyber industry”.
The NSO executive also emphasized that his company cannot disclose the details of its contracts due to “privacy issues”, but, “it will provide full transparency to any government seeking more information”.
Hulio then said, “Let any state unit, any official of any state, come along, and I will be ready to open everything up to them, so that they can enter, dig from top to bottom. “
Israel’s Defense Ministry also threatened in a statement that it would take “appropriate action” if it learned that the NSO Group had violated the terms of its export license.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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