A permanent injunction has been granted by a federal judge to Meta-owned WhatsApp, blocking Israeli cyberintelligence company NSO Group from targeting the messaging app’s users. The judge also reduced the fine that NSO Group must pay to Meta as a result.
A recent decision by a federal judge has resulted in Meta-owned WhatsApp being granted a permanent injunction against Israeli cyberintelligence company NSO Group. This injunction prevents NSO Group from targeting users of the messaging app. Additionally, the judge reduced the fine that NSO Group was originally ordered to pay to Meta.
Following a 2019 campaign that targeted over 1,400 WhatsApp users, including human rights activists and journalists, NSO Group was initially ordered to pay Meta more than $167 million earlier this year.
However, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled on Friday that due to insufficient evidence of NSO Group’s behavior being “particularly egregious,” the punitive damages ratio was limited to 9 to 1, reducing the payment to approximately $4 million.
Will Cathart, Head of WhatsApp, stated in a release provided to Courthouse News Service that the ruling “prohibits spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users in the future.” Cathart also expressed appreciation for the decision, which comes after six years of legal action against NSO Group for targeting members of civil society.
NSO Group has recently confirmed that it is in the process of being acquired by U.S. investors.
