Story perspectives

Judge Blocks NSO's Spyware on WhatsApp, Reduces Damages

10/19/2025

Summary

Story summary

A U.S. judge issued an injunction preventing NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp users, citing irreparable harm.
District Judge Phyllis Hamilton reduced Meta's damages from $168 million to $4 million, saying the conduct was not "particularly egregious."
Evidence shows NSO reverse-engineered WhatsApp code to install spyware on devices.
Will Cathcart, WhatsApp's head, said the ruling advances accountability for targeting journalists and activists, central to the 2019 lawsuit.

History

Historical Context

The NSO Group, an Israeli cyber-intelligence firm, faced scrutiny after WhatsApp sued it in October 2019 for exploiting a vulnerability to install its Pegasus spyware on 1,400 devices, including those of journalists and activists. This lawsuit highlighted ongoing concerns about digital privacy and surveillance, particularly following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which underscored the risks posed by such technologies to press freedom and human rights.

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Story summary

A U.S. judge issued an injunction preventing NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp users, citing irreparable harm.
District Judge Phyllis Hamilton reduced Meta's damages from $168 million to $4 million, saying the conduct was not "particularly egregious."
Evidence shows NSO reverse-engineered WhatsApp code to install spyware on devices.
Will Cathcart, WhatsApp's head, said the ruling advances accountability for targeting journalists and activists, central to the 2019 lawsuit.

1 / 2