How NSO Got Started

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Pegasus is a powerful wiretap that can turn on the microphone, camera and investigate emails. The first big client then NSO got was the government of Mexico. It's been reported that Mexican authorities used Pegasus to capture drug lord Joaquin Guzman - better known as El Chapo. But in a case we've seen it time and again, they've used it for its own law enforcement intelligence gathering purposes.

“Zero-click spyware” is making it easier for governments to get their hands on individuals’ personal data. New York Times investigative reporter Mark Mazzetti says that when it comes to spyware, the United States is both an arsonist and a firefighter.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Efim Shapiro, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

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