NSO Group, a prominent player in the government spyware market, recently unveiled its latest transparency report, marking a shift towards increased accountability. However, this report has drawn criticism for its lack of detailed information regarding the company’s actions against customers involved in human rights abuses.
Unlike previous reports, the latest disclosure from NSO fails to provide specific data on the number of customers rejected, investigated, suspended, or terminated due to misuse of its surveillance tools. While the report includes commitments to uphold human rights standards and enforce accountability measures for its clients, it lacks concrete evidence to support these claims.
Industry experts and critics suggest that NSO’s transparency report is part of a strategic campaign to persuade the U.S. government to remove the company from the Entity List, a move that would facilitate its entry into the U.S. market with new financial backers and leadership. The recent acquisition of NSO by U.S. investors has resulted in significant changes within the company, including the appointment of new executives and key personnel departures.
The report, penned by executive chairman David Friedman, emphasizes NSO’s commitment to ensuring the responsible use of its products in “the right hands within the right countries.” However, the document refrains from specifying the countries where NSO operates, raising concerns about the company’s transparency and accountability practices.
Natalia Krapiva, a senior tech-legal counsel at Access Now, views NSO’s transparency report as a strategic move to demonstrate substantial corporate transformation in a bid to have its Entity List restrictions lifted. Nevertheless, Krapiva highlights the company’s history of rebranding and issuing hollow transparency reports without addressing ongoing human rights abuses.
Despite NSO’s lobbying efforts to lift restrictions following its Entity List inclusion by the Biden administration, the company has yet to sway U.S. authorities. The recent lifting of sanctions against executives linked to the Intellexa spyware consortium under the Trump administration indicates a potential shift in the government’s stance on spyware makers.
The latest transparency report for 2025 lacks the level of detail found in previous years’ disclosures. Past reports have highlighted instances where NSO terminated customer relationships due to human rights concerns, resulting in significant revenue losses. However, the current report fails to provide comprehensive data on customer actions and revenue impacts.
Critics, including John Scott-Railton from The Citizen Lab, have expressed disappointment with NSO’s transparency efforts, citing a lack of verifiable information to support the company’s claims. The absence of key statistics and figures in the latest report raises questions about NSO’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
In conclusion, NSO Group’s latest transparency report falls short of providing sufficient details to demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing human rights abuses and ensuring responsible use of its surveillance tools. As the company navigates regulatory challenges and seeks to expand its market presence, stakeholders remain skeptical of its claims without concrete evidence to support its purported reforms.
