Jerusalem: The Israeli Defense Ministry on Monday announced that it tightened supervision of the export of cyber – steps that took part in a series of scandals involving the Israeli Spyware company NSO Group.
The ministry said the countries that bought Israeli cyber technology had to sign a promised declaration to use the product “for the investigation and prevention of terrorist acts and only serious crimes”.
It is said that countries that violate the provisions of use can be subject to sanctions, “including limiting the cyber system and / or disconnecting”.
The updated certificate will register in detail what qualifies as “terrorist actions” – such as attacks on people, public facilities, plane seizures, dangerous substances release – and “serious crime” which refers to those who roam six years or more.
It will also pursue the banned use – such as targeting people for political affiliates or applications that solve the country’s privacy law – where Israel can revoke the license and the system is closed.
The announcement did not mention NSO.
But it came only a few days after it was revealed that 11 employees of the US State Department were hacked with Spyware NSO.
All employees are located in Uganda.
This is the first example known from the Pegasus Spyware Group NSO used against US officials.
Last month, the US Commerce Department entered the NSO blacklist.
Apple sued NSO last week for hacking iPhone and other Apple products.
Facebook has filed a suit for similar claims that it disturbs whatsapp.
Pegasus allows its operator to get access to target phones, including contacts, text messages, and real-time communication.
NSO said it sells its technology to the government only for the battle of crime and terrorism.
However, human rights groups and researchers outside say company protection is not enough.
They say customers have misused Pegasus to oversee journalists, human rights activists and political dissidents from Mexico to Saudi Arabia.
NSO refused to comment on the guidelines.