Who Ordered The Snoop?: Twitter on NSO Spyware in Journos’ Phones

According to reports, journalist and activists in India were also targeted by the group using the spyware, Pegasus.

(Photo altered by The Quint)

Twitter was abuzz on the morning of Thursday, 31 October, after several media reports citing a WhatsApp petition claimed that the messaging app has sued Israeli spyware firm, NSO Group for allegedly hacking and targeting phones of more than 100 human right activists, lawyers, journalists, and academics.

As per a report by The Indian Express, at least a dozen Indian journalist and activists were also targeted by the group.

In a statement, Facebook said the NSO Group took advantage of a flaw in WhatsApp's program that allowed hackers to penetrate through its flagship malware, Pegasus. Head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart confirming the petition against NSO said:

NSO Group, however did not directly deny hacking WhatsApp but said it disputed the allegations and vowed to "vigorously fight them," AP reported.

Several activists, journalists and politicians took to Twitter to express their concerns. Here’s how they reacted:

‘It’s Time They Were Stopped’

Reacting to The Indian Express report that claimed over two dozens Indian journalists and activists were, veteran journalist Shekhar Gupta also reacted Twitter.

Several other journalists and academics reacted to the report as well.

Attacking the Narendra Modi government, senior Congress leader, Kapil Sibal also took to Twitter.