Court finds NSO Group violated US law by using its Pegasus spyware to hack into WhatsApp users' devices, impacting journalists and activists.
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| The landmark ruling in favor of WhatsApp sends a strong message to spyware companies; the exploitation of vulnerabilities to invade user privacy will not be tolerated. Symbolic Image |
Menlo Park, California, USA --- December 21, 2024:
In a significant legal victory for privacy advocates, a US federal court has ruled against the Israeli spyware firm NSO Group, finding them liable for hacking into the phones of thousands of WhatsApp users. WhatsApp, owned by Meta, initiated the lawsuit in 2019, alleging that NSO Group's Pegasus spyware had infiltrated the devices of journalists, human rights activists, and political dissidents across 20 countries.
NSO Group vehemently denied these allegations, claiming that Pegasus was solely intended for use by legitimate government agencies in the fight against terrorism and serious crime. They argued that they were not responsible for how their clients utilized the technology. However, the court found that NSO Group violated the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by exploiting vulnerabilities in WhatsApp's system to deliver malware to users without their knowledge or consent.
This landmark ruling has significant implications for the spyware industry. It establishes a legal precedent that companies cannot evade responsibility for the misuse of their technology, even when sold to government entities. The court's decision sends a strong message that the exploitation of vulnerabilities to invade the privacy of individuals will not be tolerated.
While NSO Group has maintained its innocence and may appeal the ruling, this legal victory for WhatsApp reinforces the importance of protecting user privacy and combating the abuse of powerful surveillance technologies.