**Israeli Spyware Maker NSO Group Acquired by US Investment Group**
*By Akash Pandey | October 11, 2025, 10:59 AM*
A US investment group has acquired Israeli spyware manufacturer NSO Group, the company famously known for its iPhone spyware, Pegasus. This development was confirmed by NSO’s spokesperson, Oded Hershowitz, who told TechCrunch that “an American investment group has invested tens of millions of dollars in the company and has acquired controlling ownership.” However, he did not reveal the exact amount or the identities of the investors involved.
### Acquisition Details and NSO’s Operations
Following reports by Israeli tech news site Calcalist, the acquisition deal was led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds. The agreement for tens of millions of dollars transfers controlling ownership of the surveillance technology company to this US-based group.
Despite the change in ownership, Hershowitz assured that NSO Group’s headquarters and core operations will remain in Israel. The company will continue to operate under the supervision and regulation of relevant Israeli authorities.
### Major Leadership Changes
As part of the acquisition, NSO’s co-founder and executive chairman, Omri Lavie, will step down from his role—a significant leadership shift for the company. Neither Lavie, Robert Simonds, nor Simonds’s Hollywood company STX Entertainment have commented on this leadership transition so far.
### Controversies Surrounding NSO Group
NSO Group has been embroiled in controversy since its inception. Its spyware has reportedly been used to target journalists, dissidents, and human rights defenders by government clients in countries such as India, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
In 2021, the US Commerce Department banned American companies from trading with NSO after it was found to be targeting a dozen US government officials abroad.
### Concerns Over the Acquisition
The acquisition has raised concerns among cybersecurity experts and human rights advocates. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab who has investigated NSO’s spyware abuses for over a decade, expressed apprehension about the new ownership.
He questioned how Robert Simonds could be trusted to oversee a company with such a controversial past, emphasizing that “this dictator tech does not belong anywhere near Americans or our constitutionally protected rights or freedoms.”
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*Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available on this developing story.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/us-investment-group-acquires-controversial-israeli-spyware-maker-nso-group/story
