NSO Group Ordered to Pay $167 Million for Illegally Hacking WhatsApp Users

The NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance technology company, has been ordered to pay $167 million in damages to WhatsApp for illegally hacking 1,400 users in 2019 through its spyware, Pegasus. This marks the first time a spyware developer has been held legally accountable for exploiting vulnerabilities in smartphone systems. The spyware allowed remote access to victims’ devices, including microphones and cameras, and was allegedly used by authoritarian regimes to monitor journalists, political figures, and activists. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, hailed the court’s decision as a landmark victory against illegal spyware development. In addition to the main fine, NSO Group must also pay $444,000 in further damages to Meta. The legal battle between the two companies has lasted six years. Pegasus came under global scrutiny in 2021 after a list of 50,000 potential targets was leaked to the media, revealing that the spyware had likely infected high-profile individuals such as French President Emmanuel Macron and associates of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi. NSO claims its technology is intended solely for combating terrorism and serious crime, but the widespread misuse suggests otherwise. The ruling could pave the way for more legal actions by other technology firms whose platforms were compromised.