Civil society organisations including Access Now and the Committee to Protect Journalists have recorded human rights risks and abuses linked to technology made by Cellebrite, an Israeli digital intelligence firm. In April 2021 Cellebrite announced its intention to become a public company, by entering into an agreement with a special-purpose acquisition company (or SPAC) named TWC Tech Holdings II Corp., which will allow it to be listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange and expand its opportunities for growth.

Alarmed at this deal, in July 2021 a group of civil society organizations and individuals wrote a letter urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), NASDAQ, and other stakeholders to stop the process until Cellebrite demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding human rights. The call follows pressure on key stakeholders from U.S. Member of Congress, Tom Malinowski, due to “urgent concern over unresolved human rights risks linked to the sales history of Cellebrite.”

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre subsequently raised the letter again with the SEC, Nasdaq, various investors and shareholders linked to the Cellebrite's bid to go public, and invited them to respond to its concerns and recommendations. After we contacted these actors, Cellebrite announced its Registration Statement on Form F-4 has been declared effective by the SEC, but we continued to seek comments on the human rights risks associated with the company’s technologies. None of the stakeholders responded to the request.