Apple and WhatsApp reaffirm their commitment to notifying users if their devices are targeted by government hacking software, including within the United States. This comes as two Israeli-founded spyware companies, Paragon Solutions and NSO Group, now backed by American investors, are seeking alliances in Washington, particularly within Donald Trump’s network. Paragon has struck a deal with the Trump administration, granting US immigration officials access to its potent hacking tool, Graphite, while NSO Group has appointed David Friedman, Trump’s former ambassador to Israel, as the executive chairman of its holding company.
While both spyware firms claim their technology aids governments in combating terrorism and organized crime, their tools, capable of covertly infiltrating smartphones to access messages, calls, and cameras, have been frequently misused to surveil journalists, activists, and political adversaries globally.
Apple and WhatsApp remain unwavering in their privacy commitments, vowing to alert users of any detected attacks, regardless of the source. Apple stated that threat notifications aim to inform and assist individual users targeted by mercenary spyware, emphasizing that geographic location does not affect this process. Similarly, WhatsApp emphasized its dedication to safeguarding users by disrupting hacking attempts, implementing additional layers of protection, and notifying individuals whose devices are threatened, irrespective of their location.
Both companies have a history of fiercely opposing spyware developers. WhatsApp, a Meta-owned platform, secured a significant legal victory when a US court permanently prohibited NSO Group from targeting its users after a prolonged legal battle. Apple has also issued global warnings to individuals, including journalists and activists, upon detecting mercenary spyware on their devices.
The increasing closeness between spyware manufacturers and Trump affiliates raises concerns about whether tech firms in Silicon Valley would maintain the same level of vigilance if US government agencies deploy these tools domestically.
Paragon Solutions’ collaboration with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has triggered apprehension in Congress, especially after reports revealed that Paragon’s Graphite spyware was used to hack numerous journalists and activists in Italy. Despite initial concerns, the deal resumed under Trump’s administration. Democratic senator Ron Wyden expressed worries about the potential misuse of spyware by ICE and other technologies that could infringe on Americans’ rights.
Meanwhile, NSO Group, known for its Pegasus spyware, blacklisted by the Biden administration in 2021 for activities contrary to US national security, is making a comeback. With new leadership led by Friedman and supported by American investor Robert Simonds, the company aims to have the sanctions lifted. Experts caution that the resurgence of commercial spyware in the US could pose a significant threat, with John Scott-Railton from Citizen Lab warning of a potential silent spyware epidemic in the country.
Apple and WhatsApp remain resolute in their stance to expose hacks wherever they occur, even if the source of the threat hits close to home.