Court Convicts Israeli Software Company in WhatsApp Hacking Case

On Friday, a US judge ruled in favor of WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, in a lawsuit against the Israeli NSO Group.

The lawsuit accused NSO Group of exploiting a vulnerability in the WhatsApp application to install spyware, which allowed the monitoring of 1,400 individuals, including journalists, human rights activists, and dissidents.

Judge Phyllis Hamilton concluded that NSO Group was liable for the hack and breach of contract. The case will now proceed to trial solely to determine the damages.

Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp, hailed the ruling as a victory for privacy.

In a social media post, he stated, “We spent five years presenting our case because we firmly believe that spyware companies cannot hide behind immunity or avoid accountability for their illegal actions.” He added, “Surveillance companies should be aware that illegal spying will not be tolerated.”