A federal judge has granted Meta-owned WhatsApp’s request for a permanent injunction to stop Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group from targeting users of the messaging app. Additionally, the judge dramatically reduced the fine that NSO Group would have to pay to Meta.
Earlier this year, a jury decided that the cyberintelligence company must Pay out over $167 million to Meta Following a 2019 campaign that targeted more than 1,400 WhatsApp users, including human rights activists and journalists.
However, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton Judgment announced on Friday Since the court did not have sufficient evidence to determine that NSO Group’s behavior was “particularly serious”, the punitive damages ratio was limited to 9 to 1, reducing the payout to approximately $4 million.
in a statement Provided to Courthouse News ServiceWhatsApp chief Will Cathcart said the ruling “prohibits spyware maker NSO from targeting WhatsApp and our global users again.”
“We applaud this decision, which follows six years of litigation, to hold the NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society,” Cathcart said.
NSO Group has recently confirmed this Acquired by American investors,
