A federal judge has granted WhatsApp, owned by Meta, a permanent injunction preventing Israeli cyberintelligence company NSO Group from targeting the app’s users. The ruling comes after years of legal battles over NSO’s 2019 campaign, which affected more than 1,400 WhatsApp accounts, including those of journalists and human rights activists.
WhatsApp Wins Permanent Ban Against Spyware Firm NSO Group
Earlier this year, a jury had ordered NSO Group to pay Meta over $167 million for its actions. However, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton reduced the fine dramatically, citing insufficient evidence to deem NSO’s behavior “particularly egregious.” The punitive damages were capped at a 9-to-1 ratio, bringing the payment down to around $4 million.
In a statement, WhatsApp Head Will Cathcart said the ruling ensures that NSO Group is banned from ever targeting WhatsApp users again. “We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society,” Cathcart added.
NSO Group also recently confirmed that it is being acquired by U.S. investors, marking a new chapter for the controversial spyware maker.
