WhatsApp has won over $167 million in damages from Israeli spyware company NSO Group in a major legal victory, according to a report by TechCrunch. The case dates back to a 2019 hacking campaign in which NSO reportedly targeted over 1,400 WhatsApp users, including journalists, activists, using a flaw in WhatsApp's calling feature.
After a five-year court battle, a US jury ordered NSO Group to pay $167 million in punitive damages and around $445,000 in compensatory damages. WhatsApp said the money helps cover the time and effort its team spent investigating the attack, fixing the vulnerability, and keeping its platform secure.
“This is a historic win,” said WhatsApp spokesperson Zade Alsawah. “It’s the first court victory against illegal spyware that threatens everyone’s privacy and safety.” WhatsApp believes the ruling sends a strong message to spyware makers that such behavior won’t be tolerated—especially when it targets American companies and users.
NSO Group hasn’t accepted defeat just yet. A spokesperson said they are considering appealing the decision and will review the verdict closely before deciding on next steps.
This case also revealed new details about NSO Group’s operations, including where the hacking victims were located and who some of the spyware firm’s clients might be.
Back in December, the judge had already ruled that NSO violated both U.S. and California hacking laws, as well as WhatsApp’s own terms of service. The recent jury decision was about how much NSO should pay.
Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp, celebrated the outcome as a big win for privacy. Spyware experts like Citizen Lab’s John Scott-Railton agreed, saying this verdict not only hits NSO financially but also damages its ability to keep its business hidden.
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