A US jury has ruled in favor of WhatsApp, ordering Israeli spyware company NSO Group to pay over $167 million in punitive damages. This decision concludes a five-year legal battle stemming from a 2019 cyberattack where NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware compromised the accounts of over 1,400 WhatsApp users.  

WhatsApp initiated the legal action in 2019, alleging that NSO Group exploited a weakness in its voice calling feature to secretly install its Pegasus spyware on user devices. The targets of this alleged surveillance included human rights defenders, journalists, and political dissidents. WhatsApp argued that this intrusion violated both federal and California anti-hacking laws, as well as WhatsApp’s own terms of service.   

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WhatsApp’s Reaction to the Verdict

WhatsApp spokesperson Zade Alsawah hailed the jury’s decision as a landmark victory. “Our court case has made history as the first victory against illegal spyware that threatens the safety and privacy of everyone,” Alsawah stated. She emphasized that the ruling sends a clear message to the surveillance-for-hire industry that engaging in illegal spying will face consequences. Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp, had previously described the lawsuit as a crucial wake-up call for both technology companies and governments, reiterating the broad risks that surveillance tools like Pegasus pose to digital privacy and civil liberties.  

NSO Group, which has consistently denied any wrongdoing, indicated it might appeal the verdict. Company spokesperson Gil Lainer stated that the firm would “carefully examine the verdict’s details and pursue appropriate legal remedies, including further proceedings and an appeal.”