Apple has filed a game changing lawsuit against Israeli NSO Group and its parent company Q Cyber Technologies.
Q Cyber Technologies and subsidiary NSO Group are Israeli technology firms that sell cyber security software to selected intelligence, government, and law enforcement agencies. They have come under extreme scrutiny from human rights groups, the US Government and now private enterprises committed to corporate social responsibility.
Earlier this year Amnesty International investigated NSO’s ‘Pegasus’ spyware with cutting-edge forensic mobile phone. As per the findings, Secretary General of Amnesty International Agnès Callamard blasted NSO as “A weapon of choice for repressive governments seeking to silence journalists, attack activists and crush dissent, placing countless lives in peril.”
NSO has tried to save face by staunchly defending itself from a fire storm of brutal criticism. Though somewhat ironically, they’ve maintained that spyware is essential to combating crime and terrorism while simultaneously being accused of being a gateway for those very things.
NSO claimed “Thousands of lives were saved around the world thanks to NSO Group’s technologies used by its customers.”
They also credited themselves as being “advocates for the truth” which provided governments with the lawful tools to fight pedophiles and terrorists.
Despite NSO’s valorous self-assertions and repeated denials of any wrongdoing, earlier this month the US Department of Commerce added them to an entity list for malicious cyber activities. This ruling was handed down for engaging in activities that were contrary to the national security and or foreign policy interests of the US.
More specifically, NSO was added to the entity list because it was found to have developed and supplied spyware for foreign governments who used these digital resources to maliciously target journalists, businesspeople, activists, academics and embassy workers.
This move corresponds with the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to put human rights issues at the front and center of US foreign policy. Of particular focus eradicating digital tools that proliferate abuse and transnational repression.
Defending its users, Apple has stepped up to the plate. After some of its users were affected by a spyware attack, Apple’s new lawsuit seeks to ban NSO Group from doing something like this ever again.
The lawsuit has also addressed NSO’s flagrant violations of US federal and state law, arising out of its efforts to target and attack Apple and its users.
In a statement about the revelatory exploitations head of apple security engineering and architecture, Ivan Krstić said, “we are always working to defend our users against even the most complex cyberattacks.”
“The steps we’re taking today will send a clear message: In a free society, it is unacceptable to weaponize powerful state-sponsored spyware against those who seek to make the world a better place.”
This move by Apple has been well-received globally. One of those happy with current actions against NSO is Ron Deibert, director the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, which helped reveal some of NSO’s dubious practices.
In a statement released by Apple he said, “Mercenary spyware firms like NSO Group have facilitated some of the world’s worst human rights abuses and acts of transnational repression, while enriching themselves and their investors.”
Privacy is a fundamental human right and fortunately Apple has not only recognized but also taken meaningful measures to uphold this basic virtue. This case has the potential to disrupt sophisticated attacks and defend the billions of people who enjoy using Apple products.
