US Court Blocks NSO Group from Targeting WhatsApp Users
URGENT UPDATE: A US court has just announced a significant ruling against Israeli spyware firm NSO Group, barring it from targeting WhatsApp users. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton confirmed the injunction after finding that NSO Group’s actions caused irreparable harm to WhatsApp, the messaging service owned by Meta.
In a dramatic decision rendered on Friday, the judge reduced the jury’s initial damages award from $168 million to just $4 million, stating that NSO’s conduct did not meet the “particularly egregious” standard necessary for such a hefty financial penalty. However, the ruling underscores the ongoing threat posed by the company’s spyware, which was designed to stealthily install itself on users’ devices by reverse-engineering WhatsApp’s code.
The court found that NSO Group repeatedly redesigned its spyware to evade detection and bypass security updates, targeting journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists using the encrypted service. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that NSO Group attempted to infect approximately 1,400 target devices with malicious software, capturing sensitive data and compromising user privacy.
Judge Hamilton emphasized the urgent need for an injunction, stating, “
The court concluded that defendants’ conduct causes irreparable harm, and there being no dispute that the conduct is ongoing.
” This ruling marks a crucial step in addressing unlawful electronic surveillance in the age of smartphones.
Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Herzliya, Israel, NSO Group is infamous for its development of Pegasus, an invasive spyware tool that can activate a target’s phone camera and microphone. Despite its claims of only licensing its technology to governments for crime-fighting purposes, independent experts have linked the software to abuses in countries with poor human rights records.
The lawsuit, filed in California federal court in late 2019, accused NSO of cyberespionage through its advanced hacking techniques. The court’s ruling signals a growing recognition of the dangers posed by such surveillance tools in the digital age.
As this story develops, the implications for privacy, security, and the accountability of tech companies remain paramount. Watch for updates as Meta and other stakeholders respond to this landmark decision.
