The FBI Was Once Interested In Israel's Pegasus Surveillance Tool

The FBI was interested in using NSO Group's Pegasus spyware. (photo: twitter @nso_group)

JAKARTA - The United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has come close to using the controversial Pegasus hacking tool in its own criminal investigation.

The information came to light when dozens of internal FBI documents were revealed to the New York Times. The media then reported that FBI officials in late 2020 and the first half of 2021 planned to use hacking software in their criminal investigations.

If the plan is realized, the FBI will use a surveillance system called Phantom, because this technology is claimed to be able to hack any phone.

The tool is a variant of the more popular Pegasus NSO malware and has the ability to comprehensively infiltrate mobile devices and monitor their activity.

At the time, it was reported that the FBI was considering using it in criminal investigations. But it's not clear how the bureau will plan to use hacking tools made by Israel-based NSO Group, or whether they have considered using spyware against US citizens.

At the time, it was reported that the FBI was considering using it in criminal investigations. But it's not clear how the bureau will plan to use hacking tools made by Israel-based NSO Group, or whether they have considered using spyware against US citizens.

In July 2021, the FBI finally decided not to use Pegasus in criminal investigations. Months later, the US placed the creator of Pegasus NSO Group on the Commerce Department's entity list, a designation that prevents US companies from doing business with the company.

At a closed-door congressional hearing earlier this year, FBI Director, Chris Wray, claimed the government's contact with NSO was counterintelligence, implying the bureau never actually intended to use the spyware tool.

Meaning, it just sounds like it's doing research into how such a tool could be used by bad actors, which the FBI itself has no interest in using.

"If you mean whether we use it in our investigations to round up or target someone, the answer is, as I believe - no", said Wray quoted from Engadget, Monday, November 14.

Wray also added that the bureau's interest in NSO tools would allow governments to find out how bad actors could use them. Despite the decision not to use Pegasus, the FBI indicated it remains open to using spyware in the future.