A federal choose has granted Meta-owned WhatsApp’s request for a everlasting injunction blocking Israeli cyberintelligence firm NSO Group from focusing on the messaging app’s customers. On the identical time, the choose dramatically diminished the nice that NSO Group should pay to Meta.
Earlier this yr, a jury determined that the cyberintelligence firm must pay Meta greater than $167 million following a 2019 marketing campaign that focused greater than 1,400 WhatsApp customers, together with human rights activists and journalists.
Nonetheless, U.S. District Decide Phyllis Hamilton dominated Friday that as a result of the courtroom didn’t have sufficient proof to find out that NSO Group’s habits was “notably egregious,” the punitive damages ratio was capped at 9 to 1, decreasing the fee to round $4 million.
In a press release supplied to Courthouse Information Service, Head of WhatsApp Will Cathart mentioned the ruling “bans spy ware maker NSO from ever focusing on WhatsApp and our international customers once more.”
“We applaud this choice that comes after six years of litigation to carry NSO accountable for focusing on members of civil society,” Cathart mentioned.
NSO Group just lately confirmed that it’s being acquired by U.S. buyers.
