EPIC Seeks Records on Federal Government’s Connections to Hacking Firm NSO Group

October 30, 2021

EPIC submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seeking information about the federal government’s connections to the Israeli-headquartered spyware company, NSO Group. NSO Group’s spyware “Pegasus” can be used to hack into a cell phone and access virtually all its data—including SMS and WhatsApp messages, location data, the phone’s camera and microphone, and even the phone’s administrative privileges. The spyware has reportedly been used to target thousands of people and has been used to spy on French President Emmanuel Macron, Dubai’s Princess Latifa, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and many other prominent activists, academics, journalists. NSO Group has reportedly pitched its spyware to the DEA, the Secret Service, and at least two city police departments. EPIC’s Surveillance Oversight Project has long advocated against surveillance of digital devices.    

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