Meta (Facebook) has reported that it banned seven companies for using their platforms to spy on some 50,000 users, including activists, politicians, journalists, celebrities and ordinary people in more than 100 countries.

These seven companies identified by Meta, including 2 with operations in Mexico, were linked to 1,500 Facebook and Instagram accounts that were used to collect information from people. Through these accounts, users were lured into handing over sensitive personal information so that the spyware could be installed on their devices, according to the report provided by Meta.

Mexicans suffer Pegasus espionage cyberattack through WhatsApp

This practice of espionage, through social networks is well known as "surveillance for hire" or "surveillance for hire".

On the other hand, Meta has assured that they have notified all those users that they detected that they could have been victims of espionage, they also affirm that the 1,500 accounts detected in this malicious activity were completely eliminated from their platforms.

Companies blocked by Meta (Facebook)

Among the seven companies detected by Meta, are:

Cytrox, a company operating in North Macedonia that develops and deploys "exploits" to silently hack and steal the contents of a victim's phone. These information thefts can be anything from call logs, text messages, to emails, location data and more.

Meta found that the company used a large infrastructure of web domains mimicking legitimate news sites to target its victims' iPhone and Android devices.

Cobwebs Technologies, an Israeli company based in the United States that was responsible for collecting data and information about targets through public websites and "dark web" sites. Meta found evidence of attacks against activists, politicians, and government officials in Hong Kong and Mexico. Around 200 accounts operating under the command of this company have already been removed.

Black Cube, an Israeli company with offices in Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. This company became famous after it was discovered that Harvey Weinstein had hired his “Surveillance for Hire” services to attack women who accused him of sexual abuse. Meta has already removed 300 Facebook and Instagram accounts related to the company.

Cognyte, an Israeli company involved in tracking location data from mobile apps, as well as running a private intelligence service, which includes creating fake social media profiles to collect information from journalists and politicians around the world. Clients were detected in Israel, Serbia, Colombia, Kenya, Morocco, Mexico, Jordan, Thailand and Indonesia.

Bluehawk CI, an Israeli company made up of former Mossad intelligence specialists. His targets included figures from the mining, energy, and medical industries, as well as Palestinian activists. Meta has removed 100 accounts linked to the company.

BellTroX, a company originally from India that was responsible for sending malicious links for data collection. His targets included several government officials and a couple of US companies (KKR and Muddy Waters).

Unknown company in China, which was in charge of developing surveillance software and facial recognition software for iOS and Android.