According to a report, the fbi acquired Israeli nso group’s pegasus spyware for $9 million in 2019. Reportedly the deal went ahead following a long process of disagreements over how much control the nso group would retain over its spyware. According to the report, the fbi took issue with nso’s policy of keeping sensors on its technology in order to keep track of its location.
Reportedly, pegasus was critical in getting Saudi Arabia to agree to Israel normalising relations with Arab states such as united Arab emirates and Bahrain. According to a report, Mohammed bin Salman, crown prince, prime minister and minister of defence in Saudi Arabia received approval to use pegasus following a deal with former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2017.
According to the report, despite the fbi’s acquisition of nso’s program, the company was blacklisted by the u.s. commerce department in November 2021 for engaging in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the u.s. Reportedly, nso group’s former chairman announced his departure in January, and the company is in talks with a number of u.s. funds discussing the sale of its assets.