Israel’s government is set to launch a full-scale inquiry into reports spyware is being used to hack Israeli public figures

Local reports suggest spyware created by the infamous NSO Group has been used to target officials, protesters, journalists and even the son of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Current Israeli PM Bennett says the reports will be “very serious” concern if found to be accurate.

The NSO Group has long faced widespread criticism over allegations its hacking spyware “Pegasus” has been sold to authoritarian governments around the world for malicious purposes.

The company continues to insist it does not operate the software once it is sold to clients, and has assured Israel it could not be used to track the nation’s citizens.

Prime Minister Bennett says such tools are “important in the fight against terrorism and severe crime, but they are not intended to be used in phishing campaigns targeting the Israeli public or officials”.