Civil society warns that the Pall Mall Process is at risk of corporate capture
"Spyware maker is hijacking diplomatic efforts to limit commercial hacking, civil society warns" 2 February 2026
Civil society groups are warning that makers of spyware tied to human rights abuses are inserting themselves into diplomatic initiatives as a way to whitewash their reputations.
The backlash comes in the wake of a “transparency report” issued by the spyware maker NSO Group on January 7 that trumpeted the company’s participation in the Pall Mall Process — a diplomatic effort aimed at reining in the misuse of spyware products while recognizing the software is worthwhile when used appropriately to fight crime and terrorism...
...French and U.K. officials told Recorded Future News that they did not invite NSO Group to participate, and that companies making submissions are not necessarily respecting human rights. Despite this, NSO Group held up its engagement with the Pall Mall Process as an example of its commitment to responsible governance of its zero-click Pegasus spyware.
“As a regulated defense technology provider operating under stringent export licensing requirements, with an established human rights compliance program and a record of implementing safeguards, investigations, and enforcement actions, NSO contributes a practical, implementation-focused perspective,” according to the report, which glossed over a long record of human rights abuses without committing to any reforms to address them...
...Elina Castillo Jiménez, the advocacy and policy advisor at Amnesty International’s Security Lab, said companies with NSO’s track record must be excluded until they have demonstrated a commitment to reform. “Any government serious about regulating this industry in order to protect human rights will reject any opportunistic attempts by companies to try and rehabilitate their reputations with vague statements but without submitting themselves to proper legal oversight," she added.
For more information on NSO Group, visit their company page in the Business and Human Rights Centre's database.