US Judge Rules in Favor of WhatsApp in Lawsuit Against NSO Group Over Pegasus Spyware Impacting 1,400 Users

Dec 21, 2024, 06:51 AM

WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, has won a significant legal battle against the Israeli company NSO Group, the developer of the Pegasus spyware. A US federal judge in California ruled that NSO Group exploited a security flaw in WhatsApp to install Pegasus on the devices of over 1,400 users in May 2019, including journalists, human rights activists, and dissidents across 20 countries. The judge found NSO Group liable for hacking into WhatsApp's systems and breaching contract terms, violating US federal and state hacking laws. The ruling marks a pivotal moment in holding spyware companies accountable for their actions. The case will now proceed to determine the damages NSO Group must pay to WhatsApp. Additionally, NSO Group failed to provide the Pegasus source code as ordered by the court.