Pegasus spying row: Israel officials inspect NSO office

Israeli authorities have conducted an inspection of the office of the cybersecurity firm NSO group, following a series of investigative reports about the misuse of its Pegasus spyware around the world.

The inspection was announced on Wednesday in a tweet in Hebrew by the Israeli defence ministry’s official Twitter account, saying, “Representatives from a number of bodies came to NSO today to examine the publications and allegations raised in its case.”

The defence ministry didn’t identify the bodies that visited the NSO group office or give more details. Israeli news website Calcalist, which first reported the inspection, described it as a “raid”. Reports said officials inspected the firm’s office at Herzliya near Tel Aviv.

NSO group confirmed the inspection in a statement sent to the media. “We can confirm that representatives from the Israeliministry of defence visited our offices. We welcome their inspection,” it said.

The firm, which has already denied the allegations of unauthorised surveillance of mobile phones using its spyware, said it is “working in full transparency with the Israeli authorities”. It added, “We are confident that this inspection will prove the facts are as declared repeatedly by the company against the false allegations made against us in the recent media attacks.”

An international media sortium last week began lishing reports based on wh believed to be a leaked li 50,000 phone numbers wo wide that were potentially geted by NSO’S customers surveillance. Evidence of Pegasus spyware or of atte to hack was found on 37 o phones that were examine forensic experts, includin phones in India.

Ministers, politicians, jour ists, businesspeople, critic the government, and acti were among those allegedly geted in India. NSO says its ware is sold only to governm customers after vetting by Is authorities. The Indian gov ment has denied all wrongd