A U.S. federal judge has issued a permanent injunction barring Israeli cyberintelligence firm NSO Group from accessing or targeting WhatsApp’s infrastructure, marking a decisive victory for the Meta-owned platform in a six-year legal battle. While granting the injunction to protect global users, the court simultaneously slashed a previous $167 million punitive damages award against NSO Group to approximately $4 million.
The Battle Over User Privacy
The legal confrontation stems from a 2019 campaign in which NSO Group allegedly exploited WhatsApp’s systems to infiltrate the devices of more than 1,400 individuals. The targeted group included high-profile human rights activists, journalists, and members of civil society, raising significant concerns regarding international digital surveillance and privacy rights.
Judge Slashes Punitive Damages
While the injunction stands as a major blow to NSO Group’s operations, the financial penalty was drastically reduced by U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton. In a ruling issued Friday, Judge Hamilton determined that the court lacked sufficient evidence to categorize the company’s conduct as “particularly egregious.” Consequently, the punitive damages were capped at a 9-to-1 ratio, resulting in the significant reduction from the earlier jury-decided amount of $167 million to roughly $4 million.
WhatsApp’s Official Response
Following the verdict, WhatsApp leadership emphasized the significance of the permanent ban. In a statement provided to Courthouse News Service, Head of WhatsApp Will Cathcart declared that the ruling effectively prohibits NSO Group from ever targeting the platform or its global user base again.
“We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society,” Cathcart stated, highlighting the long-term commitment to securing the messaging service against unauthorized surveillance.
Future of the Spyware Firm
The ruling comes at a pivotal moment for the Israeli firm, which has faced mounting international scrutiny. NSO Group has recently confirmed that it is in the process of being acquired by U.S. investors, a move that may signal a transition in the company’s future operations and ownership structure.
