This is an extensive investigation into the role of the Israeli government in limiting WhatsApp’s ability to obtain information from NSO, the controversial surveillance technology company that developed Pegasus spyware. The article details how senior Israeli officials closely monitored the progress of a lawsuit against NSO by WhatsApp and considered ways to prevent WhatsApp from gaining access to sensitive internal company files. In April 2020, NSO weighed asking the Israeli government for a “blocking order” that would prohibit the company from producing certain information to WhatsApp. However, Israel ultimately obtained a secret court order granting it powers to execute a search warrant at NSO’s office, access its internal computer systems, and seize files. The order prohibited NSO from disclosing or transferring any documents or technical materials to external persons or entities without authorization from Israeli authorities. This intervention appears to have limited NSO’s ability to participate in discovery in the WhatsApp lawsuit, which is still ongoing. The article suggests that Israel’s actions may be indicative of NSO’s close ties to the Israeli defense establishment and an attempt to shield this relationship from public scrutiny.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/article/2024/jul/25/israel-tried-to-frustrate-us-lawsuit-over-pegasus-spyware-leak-suggests