A U.S. federal judge has granted Meta-owned WhatsApp a permanent injunction preventing Israeli cyberintelligence firm NSO Group from ever targeting its users again.
However, the judge also reduced the amount of money NSO Group must pay to Meta, cutting it drastically from $167 million to about $4 million.
The case stems from a 2019 incident in which NSO Group was accused of using its spyware to hack into WhatsApp, targeting more than 1,400 users, including journalists and human rights activists. Earlier this year, a jury ruled in favor of Meta, awarding massive damages. But on Friday, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton said there wasn’t enough evidence to prove that NSO’s actions were “particularly egregious.” Because of that, the court limited the punitive damages ratio to 9 to 1, reducing the fine to around $4 million.
In a statement shared with Courthouse News Service, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart praised the court’s decision, saying it ensures that NSO Group can never again attack WhatsApp or its users worldwide. He called the outcome a victory for digital privacy and accountability, noting that the case has taken six years of legal battles to reach this point.
NSO Group, best known for its Pegasus spyware, has faced global criticism for its alleged role in surveillance targeting activists, journalists, and political figures. The company recently confirmed that it is being acquired by U.S. investors, marking a major shift in its ownership amid ongoing legal and ethical scrutiny.
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