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A U.S. federal court has directed Israel’s NSO Group to cease targeting Meta’s WhatsApp messaging platform, a move that the spyware company warns could threaten its existence. In a comprehensive 25-page ruling issued on Friday, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton issued a permanent order blocking NSO from attempting to infiltrate WhatsApp, one of the world’s most popular communication services.
Hamilton also reduced the punitive damages awarded to Meta in a recent jury trial from roughly $167 million to just $4 million, providing NSO with a notable reprieve. This injunction presents a significant obstacle for NSO, which has faced longstanding accusations of enabling human rights violations through its flagship hacking tool, Pegasus.
Pegasus exploits vulnerabilities in commonly used software to conduct surveillance, with WhatsApp being among its prime targets. NSO previously argued that an injunction against targeting WhatsApp “would endanger NSO’s entire business” and potentially force the company to shut down, according to the court’s decision.
Meta leadership celebrated the ruling. WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart announced on X, “Today’s court order bans NSO, the spyware manufacturer, from ever targeting WhatsApp and our users worldwide again. We commend this verdict, which is the result of six years of legal efforts to hold NSO accountable for targeting civil society.”
NSO, which maintains that its products are intended to combat serious crime and terrorism, expressed satisfaction with the substantial reduction in punitive damages. The company stated that the injunction does not impact its clients, who are expected to continue using its technology to promote public safety. It also indicated that it would evaluate the ruling and plan its subsequent steps accordingly.
Recently, the firm was acquired by a consortium led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds, according to a report earlier this month from TechCrunch. Simonds has not responded to inquiries yet.
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