A federal judge granted Meta-owned WhatsApp’s request for a permanent injunction preventing Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group from attacking users of the messaging app. At the same time, the judge drastically reduced the fine that NSO Group must pay to Meta.
Earlier this year, a jury decided that the cyber intelligence company would have to pay Meta more than 167 million dollars following a 2019 campaign targeting more than 1,400 WhatsApp users, including human rights activists and journalists.
However, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled on friday that because the court did not have sufficient evidence to find that NSO Group’s behavior was “particularly egregious,” the ratio of punitive damages was limited to 9 to 1, reducing the award to about $4 million.
in a statement provided to Courthouse News ServiceWhatsApp chief Will Cathart said the ruling “prohibits spyware maker NSO from attacking WhatsApp and our global users again.”
“We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society,” Cathart said.
NSO Group recently confirmed that this is happening acquired by American investors.
