In 2017, the Indian government purchased Israeli spyware as part of a $2 billion weapons package, which included a missile system. The New York Times reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation also bought and tested the spyware for domestic surveillance, but ultimately decided not to deploy it.
The spyware was used globally, with Mexico targeting journalists and dissidents, and Saudi Arabia targeting women’s rights activists and associates of Jamal Khashoggi. Israel licensed the spyware to Poland, Hungary, India, and other countries.
During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel in July 2017, the two countries agreed on a $2 billion weapons and intelligence gear deal, with Pegasus and a missile system as the main components. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu later visited India, and in June 2019, India supported Israel at the UN to deny observer status to a Palestinian human rights organization.
Neither the Indian nor Israeli government has confirmed India’s purchase of Pegasus. A global media consortium revealed in July 2021 that several governments used the spyware for surveillance.
The Wire’s investigation in India found that Congress leader , political strategist , and other prominent figures were targets of the spyware. The Indian government dismissed the report as an attempt to discredit Indian democracy.
Israel’s Ambassador to India stated that NSO, the maker of the spyware, operates under Israeli government supervision. The Supreme Court of India ordered a thorough inquiry into allegations of unauthorized surveillance using Pegasus.
In November, the US sanctioned the NSO Group.
