Apple and FBI Punished by Lawmakers for Spyware from Israel’s NSO Corporation

Two Republican legislators are pressing Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation provided information about spyware carried out by the Israeli company NSO Group, according to letters obtained by CNBC.

The letters, dated Thursday and signed by Rank Member of the House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and the subcommittee on citizenship Ranked Member Mike Johnson, R-La., are given later The New York Times reported Earlier this year the FBI acquired surveillance technology from NSO Group.

“The committee is examining the FBI’s acquisition, testing, and use of spyware by NSO and the potential civil liberties impacts of using Pegasus or Phantom against the people of the United States.” , the letter sent to Apple said.

Last year, an investigation by a coalition of news agencies find NSO’s software is used to hack the phones of journalists and activists. NSO Group has denied the report’s findings. But a few months after the investigation was announced, the Biden administration blacklisted the companysays the company knowingly provides its technology to foreign governments, who have used it to “maliciously target” the phones of dissidents, activists and journalists .

That technology, called Pegasus, is a spy tool that allows users to hack into Apple iOS or Google Android phones and accessing messages on apps are encrypted, all without requiring victims to click on malware links. Vice News reported for the first time that the NSO Group introduced the US local police to a similarly styled tool called the Phantom. The Times writes that the Israeli government has issued a special license that allows Phantom to target US phones, a capability that Pegasus does not have, and that only US government agencies are authorized to purchase the tool under. license. The company demonstrated the tool to the FBI, according to the Times.

In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Jordan and Johnson said they found the FBI’s acquisition of NSO spyware to be “deeply troubling and pose a significant risk to the civil liberties of the public.” the people of the United States.”

The FBI bought and tested Pegasus technology, According to the Times, and considered deploying Phantom in the US, before deciding against it. However, the letter asks the FBI to turn over communications between the agency and NSO Group or its subsidiaries regarding the agency’s purchase, testing, or use of NSO spyware and its potential legality. potential of using Phantom against domestic targets.

Pegasus relies on zero days or holes in Apple’s code that it’s not aware of and hasn’t patched. Apple sued NSO Group in November for targeting its technology with spyware, seeking an injunction against NSO Group from using any Apple devices or software.

But Apple’s company prioritizes secrecy, especially compared to Microsoft and Google, has prompted security researchers to call for more transparency from the company. Apple said last year that it patch a hole used by Pegasus, although it’s unclear if NSO technology has other ways to hack iPhones.

Apple, the FBI and NSO Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An FBI spokesman told the Times in a statement to the story in January that it looks at new technologies “not only to explore potential legitimate uses, but also to fight crime and protect the public.” Americans and our civil liberties That means we regularly identify, evaluate, and test technical solutions and services for a variety of reasons, including concerns about possible activity and security that they could put in the wrong hands.”

The letters are embedded below.