NSO has been accused for years of facilitating human rights violations through its flagship hacking tool, Pegasus.
A US judge issues a permanent injunction preventing NSO Group from hacking the messaging platform WhatsApp. PHOTO: PIXABAY
A US court has ordered Israeli group NSO to stop targeting Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp messaging service, a development the spyware company says could put it out of business.
In a 25-page ruling issued Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton imposed a permanent injunction on NSO Group’s efforts to break into WhatsApp, one of the world’s most widely used communications platforms.
Hamilton also granted NSO a significant reduction in damages awarded in a recently concluded jury trial, reducing the punitive damages it owes Meta from approximately $167 million to $4 million.
Learn more: AI chip development will become cheaper and more accessible thanks to open source technology
The injunction is likely to pose a challenge for NSO, which has been accused for years of facilitating human rights violations through its flagship hacking tool, Pegasus.
Pegasus takes advantage of weaknesses in commonly deployed software to power its surveillance, making WhatsApp one of its main targets.
NSO has already argued that an injunction preventing it from going after WhatsApp would “endanger NSO’s entire business” and “force NSO to cease operations,” according to the ruling.
Meta executives celebrated the decision.
“Today’s decision prohibits spyware maker NSO from targeting WhatsApp and our global users again,” WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart said on X. “We applaud this decision which comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society.”
Read also: Apple secures exclusive US media rights to broadcast F1 races
NSO, which has long insisted its products combat serious crime and terrorism, said it welcomed the 97% reduction in punitive damages and said the injunction did not apply to NSO’s customers, “who will continue to use the company’s technology to help protect public safety.”
The company said it would review the decision and “determine its next steps accordingly.”
The company was recently acquired by a group led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds, according to a report earlier this month in technology publication TechCrunch. Simonds did not immediately return an email.
