US District Court Issues Legal Ban on NSO Group From Targeting WhatsApp

A US court has ordered Israel’s NSO Group to stop targeting Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp messaging service -- a ruling the spyware company warned could put it out of business.

 

In a 25-page ruling, US District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton issued a permanent injunction preventing NSO Group from attempting to hack or infiltrate WhatsApp, one of the world’s most widely used communication platforms.

 

The judge also significantly reduced the punitive damages NSO was ordered to pay Meta, cutting the amount from about $167 million (Dh613 million) to $4 million (Dh14.6 million).

 

The injunction is expected to pose a major challenge to NSO, which has long faced allegations of enabling human rights abuses through its flagship hacking tool, Pegasus. The Pegasus spyware exploits vulnerabilities in widely used software to conduct surveillance, making WhatsApp one of its key targets.

 

NSO had previously argued that a court order preventing it from targeting WhatsApp “would put NSO’s entire enterprise at risk” and “force NSO out of business,” according to the judgment.

 

Meta executives welcomed the ruling. “Today’s ruling bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users again,” said WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart on X. “We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society.”

 

NSO, which has consistently claimed its products are used to combat serious crime and terrorism, said it welcomed the 97 per cent reduction in punitive damages and noted that the injunction did not apply to its clients, “who will continue using the company’s technology to help protect public safety.”

 

The company added that it would review the decision and “determine its next steps accordingly.”

 

Earlier this month, tech publication TechCrunch reported that NSO had been acquired by a group led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds. Simonds did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.