An investigation found that spyware developed by an Israeli surveillance company called NSO Group has been used to target journalists, political dissidents, and human rights activists. More than 1,000 individuals in 50 countries were allegedly selected for potential surveillance - including 189 journalists and more than 600 politicians and government officials. Agnès Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, said: "NSO's spyware is a weapon of choice for repressive governments seeking to silence journalists, attack activists and crush dissent, placing countless lives in peril ... Until this company and the industry as a whole can show it is capable of respecting human rights, there must be an immediate moratorium on the export, sale, transfer and use of surveillance technology."