TITLE: US Investors Acquire Controversial Spyware Maker NSO Group
US Investment Group Takes Control of NSO Group
Israeli surveillance technology company NSO Group has confirmed that an American investment group has acquired controlling ownership of the controversial spyware maker. According to NSO spokesperson Oded Hershowitz, the investment group has committed tens of millions of dollars to the company, though specific financial details and investor identities remain undisclosed.
Deal Details and Operational Continuity
The confirmation follows earlier reports from Israeli tech publication Calcalist indicating that a group led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds had agreed to purchase the surveillance technology manufacturer. Despite the ownership change, Hershowitz emphasized that the company will maintain its Israeli operational base and regulatory compliance.
“This investment does not mean that the company is moving out of Israeli regulatory or operational control,” stated Hershowitz. “The company’s headquarters and core operations remain in Israel. It continues to be fully supervised and regulated by the relevant Israeli authorities, including the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli regulatory framework.”
Leadership Changes and Historical Context
As part of the acquisition arrangement, NSO’s co-founder and executive chairman Omri Lavie will conclude his involvement with the company. This development follows previous acquisition attempts, including a 2023 exploration by Simonds and associates that ultimately did not materialize.
The ownership transition represents another chapter in NSO’s complex corporate history. The company has experienced multiple ownership changes since its founding, including:
- Acquisition by US private equity firm Francisco Partners in 2014
- Management buyback by founders in 2019 with European private equity support
- Transfer to Berkeley Research Group management in 2021
- Lavie’s return as majority owner in 2023
Ongoing Controversies and Regulatory Challenges
NSO Group has operated under intense scrutiny throughout its existence. Multiple research organizations, including the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab and Amnesty International, have documented numerous instances where NSO’s government clients targeted journalists, dissidents, and human rights defenders across multiple countries.
The company faced significant regulatory action in 2021 when the US Commerce Department placed NSO on the Entities List, prohibiting American companies from conducting business with the spyware maker. This decision followed revelations that NSO’s technology had been used to target US government officials overseas.
Expert Concerns and Future Implications
Digital rights experts have expressed serious concerns about the acquisition. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab who has investigated NSO spyware abuses for a decade, questioned the oversight capabilities of the new ownership.
“NSO is a company with a long history of going against American interests and supporting the hacking of American officials,” Scott-Railton noted. “My real concern is that NSO has strenuously tried to enter the United States and sell their product to American police forces. This dictator tech does not belong anywhere near Americans, or our constitutionally protected rights or freedoms.”
For comprehensive coverage of this developing story, including detailed background on NSO’s controversial history and the specific terms of the acquisition, readers can reference the original reporting from our monitoring division.
