The European Union's data protection watchdog (EDPS) has called for a ban on controversial Pegasus spyware developed by Israel's NSO Group, Reuters reports.

The EDPS said that the use of Pegasus could lead to an unprecedented level of intrusiveness capable of interfering with the most intimate aspects of our daily lives.

Israel has come under global pressure over allegations that Pegasus has been misused by some foreign governments to spy on human rights activists, journalists and politicians.

The NSO said it could not confirm or deny information about existing or potential Pegasus customers. The company stated that it does not operate the system after it is sold to government customers and is not involved in any way with its operation.

A ban on the development and deployment of Pegasus-capable spyware in the EU would be the most effective way to protect our fundamental rights and freedoms, the EDPS said.

An investigation released last year by 17 media organizations, led by the Paris-based non-profit journalism group Forbidden Stories, says spyware has been used to hack smartphones belonging to journalists, government officials and human rights activists on a global scale.