Meta Secures $168M Victory Over NSO Group Spyware Abuses

A U.S. federal jury has ordered Israeli spyware firm NSO Group to pay over $167 million in damages to Meta's WhatsApp after it was found liable for hacking around 1,400 users, including journalists, activists, and diplomats, using its Pegasus spyware. This marks the first legal precedent holding a spyware developer accountable for exploiting vulnerabilities in consumer platforms, exposing the secretive practices of the surveillance-for-hire industry. The trial revealed that NSO charged government clients millions for access to its sophisticated hacking tools, which could covertly compromise smartphones to extract nearly all user data and remotely activate cameras and microphones. Evidence showed Pegasus was used not just for criminal investigations but also to surveil civil society members. As part of the case, a judge also ordered NSO to hand over its Pegasus code to Meta, further increasing pressure on the embattled company, which faces blacklisting and severe financial troubles. Meta and privacy advocates have hailed the verdict as a crucial step toward safeguarding user privacy and deterring illegal spyware use.