Israeli spyware firm NSO to pay WhatsApp $168 mn in damages, rules court

Tech giant Meta Platforms has won a $168 million verdict against the Israeli spyware company NSO, maker of the Pegasus spyware. The verdict brings an end to the six-year-long contest between the US’s largest social networking platform and the world’s best-known spyware company, Reuters reported.

WhatsApp bug exploitation at centre of Meta-NSO legal battle

The case pertains to exploiting a bug in the encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp and selling it to clients who used it to keep a check on journalists, activists, and political dissidents. The case in California’s federal court marks the first time a spyware company has been held responsible for breaching the technical sanctity of the platforms that operate on smartphones.

Court orders NSO to pay $168 mn in damages to Meta

The federal court ruled on Tuesday (local time) that NSO owes $444,719 in compensatory damages to Meta, along with $167.3 million in punitive damages, the tech giant said.

In a statement, Meta said, “Today’s verdict in WhatsApp’s case is an important step forward for privacy and security as the first victory against the development and use of illegal spyware that threatens the safety and privacy of everyone.”

NSO responds to ruling, signals possible appeal

NSO also released a statement following the verdict and noted it would “carefully examine the verdict’s details and pursue appropriate legal remedies, including further proceedings and an appeal.”