Aversion to arming human rights violators often trumped by political expediency; only new legislation can keep Israeli firms from selling wares to bad actors, activists say

Israel's NSO Group is in the eye of a storm over its Pegasus software, but is far from the only company helping governments covert operations

According to the New York Times, the government encouraged several companies, including NSO Group, to continue cooperation, regardless of concerns tech was used to quash dissent

DarkMatter intelligence firm, which reportedly has Israelis on staff, probably designed ToTok messaging app to secretly surveil users, New York Times reports

Accounts included those of a popular journalist with more than 1 million followers and other prominent government critics; one suspect fled to Saudi Arabia