WOW! Just discovered that Rod Rosenstein is defending spyware company NSO Group in the @WhatsApp case. Quite the career pivot after prosecuting foreign hackers as Deputy Attorney General. THREAD 1/

CONTEXT: Rosenstein's firm @kslaw trying to hold onto their role as defense counsel for NSO. @WhatsApp is arguing that they have a conflict of interest & should be disqualified b/c firm repped WA in still-sealed fight vs. DoJ (likely to defend encryption). https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/1255911432165736458

Aside the @WhatsApp case, NSO is the target of an FBI investigation already underway in 2017. Was Rosenstein briefed on the investigation into NSO while in office? 3/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-nso-exclusive/exclusive-fbi-probes-use-of-israeli-firms-spyware-in-personal-and-government-hacks-sources-idUSKBN1ZT38B

On the one hand... NSO & customers hacked an American company & some close allies. They sell dangerous tools that erode our national security and are a counterintelligence threat. On the other... Rosenstein does need billable hours... 4/4

Interesting: NSO has had a lot of trouble finding a California law firm that hasn't worked in some capacity with @WhatsApp or @Facebook... From a declaration by NSO's General Counsel.