Spyware maker NSO Group blocked from WhatsApp

A federal judge has granted Meta-owned WhatsApp’s request for a permanent injunction to block Israeli cyberintelligence company NSO Group from targeting users of the messaging app. At the same time, the judge dramatically reduced the fine that NSO Group Meta had to pay.

Earlier this year, a jury decided that the cyber intelligence company had to Pay more than $167 million to Meta Follows a 2019 campaign that targeted more than 1,400 WhatsApp users, including human rights activists and journalists.

But US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton Ruled on Friday Because the court did not have sufficient evidence to determine that NSO Group’s conduct was “particularly egregious,” the punitive damages ratio was capped at 9 to 1, reducing the payout to about $4 million.

In a statement Provided to Courthouse News ServiceWill Cathart, head of WhatsApp, said the ruling “bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our users worldwide again.”

“We applaud this decision after six years of litigation to hold the NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society,” Cathart said.

NSO Group recently confirmed that this is happening Acquired by US investors.