Judge rules that NSO cannot continue to install spyware via WhatsApp pending appeal

Steven

Judge rules that NSO cannot continue to install spyware via WhatsApp pending appeal

Summary

A US federal judge denied NSO Group’s request to stay an injunction that bars the firm from using WhatsApp infrastructure to deploy spyware. The litigation centres on allegations that NSO used its Pegasus zero-click spyware in 2019 to target about 1,400 WhatsApp users. NSO argued the injunction would inflict “catastrophic” and potentially existential harm to its business, but the court found the company had not shown a strong likelihood of success on the merits.

The opinion notes evidence that NSO reverse-engineered WhatsApp to build an attack vector enabling client surveillance and access to WhatsApp servers. The judge did grant a short administrative stay of up to 45 days to allow NSO time to seek relief from an appeals court.

Key Points

  • The court declined to stay the injunction preventing NSO from using WhatsApp infrastructure to install spyware.
  • The case alleges NSO targeted roughly 1,400 WhatsApp users with Pegasus in 2019.
  • NSO warned the injunction would cause “catastrophic” harm; the judge said NSO did not show a strong likelihood of success on liability issues.
  • Evidence in the record indicates NSO reverse-engineered WhatsApp to create a spyware vector and obtain data from WhatsApp servers.
  • The judge allowed a limited administrative stay (up to 45 days) so NSO can seek an appellate court’s intervention.

Context and relevance

This ruling matters for privacy, cybersecurity and the commercial spyware industry. A decision curtailing NSO’s ability to use major messaging platforms sets a legal and technical precedent — it signals that vendors who craft exploits targeting mainstream apps may face enforceable injunctions. For security teams, platform operators and policymakers, the case highlights tensions between surveillance tool vendors, user protections and platform integrity.

Why should I read this?

Short version: this is a big deal. The court has effectively paused NSO’s use of WhatsApp as an attack surface pending appeal, and that could reshape how spyware firms operate and how tech platforms defend users. If you track cyber‑espionage, platform security or legal limits on surveillance tech, it’s worth a quick read.

Author note (style)

Punchy takeaway: a strong win for platform protections and user privacy — but the fight isn’t over. The 45‑day administrative stay buys NSO a little runway; the appellate process will be where long‑term precedent is set.

Source

Source: https://therecord.media/judge-rules-nso-cannot-continue-whatsapp-spyware