Security News > 2020 > April > NSO Group: Facebook tried to license our spyware to snoop on its own addicts – the same spyware it's suing us over

NSO Group - sued by Facebook for developing Pegasus spyware that targeted WhatsApp users - this week claimed Facebook tried to license the very same surveillance software to snoop on its own social-media addicts.

The Israeli spyware maker's CEO Shalev Hulio alleged in a statement [PDF] to a US federal district court that in 2017 he was approached by Facebook reps who wanted to use NSO's Pegasus technology in Facebook's controversial Onavo Protect app to track mobile users.

According to the NSO chief exec, Onavo Protect needed more surveillance powers on iOS handhelds, and so Facebook turned to the spyware maker for its technology.

"NSO is trying to distract from the facts Facebook and WhatsApp filed in court nearly six months ago. Their attempt to avoid responsibility includes inaccurate representations about both their spyware and a discussion with people who work at Facebook," a Facebook spokesperson said.

The case has been unusual from the start, with Facebook filing suit after first deleting NSO workers' personal Facebook accounts.

News URL

https://go.theregister.co.uk/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2020/04/03/nso_facebook_pegasus_whatsapp/