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Israel's NSO Group found liable for hacking in WhatsApp lawsuit

The Straits Times

|

December 22, 2024

A US judge ruled on Dec 20 in favor of Meta Platforms' WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a bug in the messaging app to install spyware allowing unauthorized surveillance.

US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, granted a motion by WhatsApp and found NSO liable for hacking and breach of contract. The case will now proceed to a trial only on the issue of damages, the judge said.

NSO Group did not immediately respond to an e-mail request for comment.

Mr. Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp, said the ruling is a win for privacy.

"We spent five years presenting our case because we firmly believe that spyware companies could not hide behind immunity or avoid accountability for their unlawful actions," Mr. Cathcart said in a social media post.

"Surveillance companies should be on notice that illegal spying will not be tolerated."

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