Super spyware maker NSO must pay Meta $168M in WhatsApp snoop drama
Meta has won a significant legal battle against the NSO Group, receiving a $168 million verdict for the exploitation of vulnerabilities in WhatsApp that allowed them to spy on users. The ruling highlights the ongoing struggle against invasive surveillance technology.
Key Points
- A California jury awarded Meta over $167 million after ruling in their favour against NSO Group.
- NSO exploited a flaw in WhatsApp via a zero-click vulnerability, allowing malware installation without user interaction.
- Pegasus spyware affected around 1,400 WhatsApp accounts before the issue was patched by Meta’s engineers.
- Meta is sharing court deposition transcripts from NSO executives to aid research on spyware threats.
- The verdict was nearly three times NSO’s annual research and development budget, reflecting the jury’s punitive stance.
Why should I read this?
If you’ve ever wondered just how far surveillance technologies can go and what it means for user privacy, this article is a must-read. With Meta’s hefty win over the notorious NSO Group, it’s clear that the battle against such invasive tech is ongoing and incredibly significant. We’ve sifted through the details, so you can grasp the implications this ruling has for the future of online privacy and security in just a few minutes.