In a major legal decision, a US federal court has permanently barred Israeli spyware firm NSO Group from targeting Meta’s WhatsApp platform with its Pegasus spyware. The ruling, delivered by US District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton, also drastically reduced the punitive damages the company owes Meta from 167 million dollars to 4 million dollars.
The 25-page judgment issued on Friday imposes a permanent injunction on NSO Group, preventing it from attempting to hack or compromise WhatsApp, which is used by billions of people around the world. The court’s decision is seen as a significant setback for NSO, which has long faced accusations of enabling human rights abuses through its surveillance software.
Pegasus, NSO’s flagship product, exploits vulnerabilities in widely used software to conduct surveillance operations. WhatsApp had been one of its primary targets, prompting Meta’s legal action. NSO previously claimed that a ban on targeting WhatsApp “would put NSO’s entire enterprise at risk” and “force NSO out of business,” as noted in the judgment.
Following the ruling, WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart celebrated the outcome, stating on X, “Today’s ruling bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users again. We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society.”
In response, NSO expressed relief over the 97 percent reduction in damages and maintained that the injunction does not restrict its customers. The company said its clients “will continue using the company’s technology to help protect public safety.” It added that it would “review the decision and determine its next steps accordingly.”
The ruling comes as NSO undergoes major ownership changes, having been recently acquired by a group led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds, according to a recent report. The outcome marks another turning point in the long-running legal and ethical debate over the use of spyware in digital surveillance.
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