NSO Lawyer Names Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan as Spyware Customers Behind 2019 WhatsApp Hacks

In a shocking revelation, a lawyer representing the Israeli spyware company NSO Group revealed that the governments of Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan were among the key players behind a massive hacking campaign that targeted over 1,200 WhatsApp users in 2019.

The information was disclosed during a hearing in a lawsuit between NSO Group and the US government, which has been seeking to ban the company's Pegasus spyware. The Pegasus software is notorious for its ability to infiltrate mobile devices and access sensitive user data.

According to the lawyer, whose identity remains anonymous due to concerns about potential repercussions from the NSO Group, the hacking campaign was one of several carried out by the company against WhatsApp users in 2019. The attacks were reportedly linked to several government agencies, including those from Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan.

The motive behind these hacks is still unclear, but experts have long suspected that governments are using NSO Group's spyware to target journalists, dissidents, and other individuals who may be critical of their regimes. The use of such software has sparked intense debate about the limits of government surveillance and the ethics of private companies providing tools for espionage.

The NSO Group has maintained that its products are only sold to law enforcement agencies and governments, and that they do not condone their use for illicit purposes. However, critics argue that the company's business model is inherently problematic and that it creates a lucrative market for spyware to be used as a tool of state repression.

The revelation about Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan's involvement in the 2019 hacking campaign has significant implications for global efforts to regulate the use of spyware. It highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability among governments and companies involved in the production and sale of surveillance tools.