Wed, 07 May 2025

Wed, 07 May 2025 Maker of Pegasus spyware told to pay $167m for WhatsApp hack

Journalists and activists say the software is used by authoritarian regimes to spy on them.
Israeli firm NSO Group ordered to pay WhatsApp $167m (£125m) over hacking 1,400 people with Pegasus spyware in 2019. The malicious software can access mobile phone microphones and cameras, and has been accused of being used by authoritarian regimes to monitor journalists, activists, and politicians. Meta, owner of WhatsApp, claims this is the "first victory against the development and use of illegal spyware". NSO Group plans to appeal the verdict. The tech is supposed to be for use against serious criminals and terrorists, but it's suspected that some countries have used it to target anyone deemed a national security threat. A leaked list in 2021 showed over 50,000 phone numbers believed to be hacked, including politicians, journalists, and business executives. NSO Group has also been ordered to pay Meta $444,000 in damages. This verdict opens up the possibility of legal action from other technology giants whose platforms were targeted with Pegasus spyware.
  >>