Cognyte Software
Israeli surveillance technology company selling mass surveillance and spyware to authoritarian regimes. Spun off from Verint Systems in 2021, with documented sales to Myanmar, South Sudan, Azerbaijan, and Indonesia.
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Material Risk Framing
Frame your message around business risks. These talking points resonate with corporate stakeholders and institutional investors.
Documented use of technology to target LGBTQ+ individuals in Azerbaijan (leading to arrests and torture), journalists, and political dissidents. Norway Government Pension Fund divested citing 'unacceptable risk of contributing to serious human rights violations'. Meta banned 100+ accounts for surveillance-for-hire operations.
Stock vulnerable to divestment campaigns following Norway pension fund exclusion. ARK Investment Management reduced holdings by 12.4% in 2025. Revenue concentrated in government contracts with regimes facing international pressure.
Israel State Attorney confirmed unlicensed sale to Myanmar in violation of Israeli export controls. Criminal investigation application filed with Israel's Attorney General for aiding crimes against humanity in Myanmar. Technology exported to sanctioned regimes.
Meta platform ban restricts social engineering operations. Export license violations create regulatory risk. Irish Garda contract scrutinised after Freedom of Information disclosures. Close ties to Israeli security services (former Shin Bet head as adviser) create reputational liability.
Strategic Analysis
In-depth assessment of the company's position, vulnerabilities, and recommended approaches for effective engagement.
High severity, high vulnerability — campaigns with the best chance of making an impact
Learn about our methodology — companies are categorised based on severity (harm potential) vs strategic vulnerability (campaign leverage).
Why do these scores change?
Unlike static boycott lists, our targeting model is dynamic. This company's position on the matrix is re-evaluated continually as we verify new contracts, divestments, or policy changes. Your reporting directly impacts this score.
Cognyte represents a high-priority B2B target as an Israeli-headquartered surveillance technology company with documented sales to authoritarian regimes committing human rights abuses. The company's close ties to Israeli security services (including former Shin Bet director as adviser) and its NASDAQ listing make it vulnerable to both divestment campaigns and procurement pressure from democratic government clients.
Key Leverage Points
- Proven Divestment Precedent: Norway Government Pension Fund's 2022 exclusion provides authoritative template for institutional investors, citing 'unacceptable risk of contributing to serious human rights violations' under ethics guidelines.
- Export License Violations: Israel State Attorney's confirmation of unlicensed Myanmar sale creates legal and compliance risk for government clients concerned about procuring from companies violating export controls.
- Platform Accountability: Meta's 2021 ban of 100+ accounts for surveillance-for-hire operations demonstrates corporate accountability mechanisms can be activated against complicit companies.
- Democratic Client Exposure: Contracts with democratic police forces (Ireland's Garda) create pressure points where public oversight and Freedom of Information mechanisms expose controversial relationships.
Documented Human Rights Impact
Cognyte and predecessor Verint have been directly implicated in grave human rights abuses across multiple countries. In Azerbaijan, surveillance technology was used to identify LGBTQ+ individuals through Facebook monitoring, leading to arrests and documented torture of 45 gay men and transgender women. In South Sudan, Amnesty International documented that Cognyte technology enabled authorities to intercept every phone conversation in the country during a civil war marked by atrocities. The Myanmar sale, confirmed to have violated Israeli export controls, provided surveillance capabilities to the military junta one month before its February 2021 coup.
The company's ties to Israeli security services include the appointment of former Shin Bet director Nadav Argaman as senior adviser. The company's 'investigative analytics' technology is marketed to military and intelligence clients globally.
Engagement Strategy
Focus campaigns on institutional investor divestment using the Norway pension fund precedent as template. Target procurement decision-makers in democratic countries with contracts (Ireland, EU member states) emphasising export license violations and documented human rights abuses. Submit Freedom of Information requests to uncover additional government contracts. Engage human rights organisations to amplify documentation of abuses. The goal is contract cancellation and economic isolation rather than product substitution - surveillance technology from complicit Israeli firms should be excluded entirely from ethical procurement frameworks.
Evidence & Sources
Verified sources including NGO reports, regulatory filings, and primary documents. Use these to substantiate your correspondence.
Documents reveal EUR 278,000 in payments from Irish police to Cognyte for surveillance analytics, with details released through Freedom of Information requests.
Open sourceIsrael's State Attorney confirmed Cognyte sold cyber-intel system to Myanmar without required export license, validating NGO allegations of illegal arms trade.
Open sourceDocuments reveal Cognyte won tender from Myanmar's MPT for lawful interception gateway in December 2020, one month before the military coup, despite Israeli ban on sales to the regime.
Open sourceDocuments show application for criminal investigation filed with Israel's Attorney General for aiding crimes against humanity through surveillance technology provision.
Open sourceNorges Bank Executive Board excluded Cognyte citing 'unacceptable risk that the company contributes to serious human rights violations' under conduct-based criteria.
Open sourceMeta removed 100+ Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to Cognyte for surveillance-for-hire operations targeting journalists and politicians globally.
Open sourceInvestigation reveals Verint/Cognyte sold surveillance technology enabling South Sudan authorities to intercept every phone conversation in the country.
Open sourceUpdates & Milestones
- $20m+ Contract Renewed
Cognyte announces renewal of $20m+ annual contract with undisclosed EMEA national security agency, extending decade-long partnership.
- Irish Police Contract Exposed
Irish Times reveals EUR 278,000 in Garda Siochana payments to Cognyte through Freedom of Information disclosure.
- Unlicensed Myanmar Sale Confirmed
Israel State Attorney confirms Cognyte sold surveillance system to Myanmar without required export license, validating NGO allegations.
- Norway Pension Fund Divestment
Norway Government Pension Fund Global excludes Cognyte citing 'unacceptable risk of contributing to serious human rights violations'.
- Meta Platform Ban
Meta removes 100+ Cognyte-linked accounts from Facebook and Instagram for surveillance-for-hire operations targeting journalists and politicians.
- South Sudan Sales Exposed
Haaretz investigation reveals Verint/Cognyte sold surveillance enabling South Sudan to intercept every phone conversation in the country.
- Myanmar Contract Awarded
Cognyte won tender from Myanmar's MPT for lawful interception gateway, one month before military coup. Contract processed without required Israeli export license.
- Spin-off from Verint Systems
Cognyte spun off from US-Israeli company Verint to form independent NASDAQ-listed surveillance technology firm, distancing from prior human rights allegations.