Islamabad: Meta Platforms has achieved a significant legal victory against Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group, securing a $168 million judgment in a landmark case concerning the unlawful use of spyware.
A California jury awarded Meta $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167.3 million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit stemmed from NSO’s exploitation of a vulnerability in WhatsApp’s video calling system, enabling the installation of Pegasus spyware on approximately 1,400 devices, including those of journalists, human rights activists, and diplomats .
The court found NSO Group liable for violating U.S. hacking laws and WhatsApp’s terms of service.
Despite NSO’s claims that its technology was used solely for legitimate government purposes, the court emphasized that the company’s actions facilitated unauthorized access to Meta’s servers and the distribution of spyware.
Meta has pledged to donate the awarded damages to organizations dedicated to defending digital rights and combating surveillance abuse.
The company also plans to seek a court order to prevent future intrusions by NSO Group. NSO Group has expressed its intention to appeal the decision.
This ruling sets a significant precedent for holding spyware vendors accountable under U.S. law, marking a critical step in the global effort to protect digital privacy and security.
The case stemmed from NSO’s illegal use of a vulnerability in WhatsApp to deploy its notorious Pegasus spyware on users’ devices, bypassing security protections and compromising digital privacy.
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Meta, which owns WhatsApp, hailed the decision as a “major step for digital privacy and accountability,” pledging to donate the awarded funds to organizations fighting surveillance abuse and defending digital rights.
The lawsuit gained traction after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against NSO’s claim of sovereign immunity, affirming that private surveillance firms cannot hide behind government clients.
NSO has sold its spyware to countries with contentious human rights records, including Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
Court proceedings highlighted NSO’s deep technical resources and substantial budget, while the company drew criticism for noncompliance with discovery orders.
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Privacy advocates praised the verdict as a clear warning to spyware vendors that unlawful actions will face serious consequences under U.S. law.
