NSO Group Accused of Defying US Court Order Against WhatsApp Targeting
Meta revealed that NSO Group, an Israeli spyware firm now under US ownership, allegedly targeted WhatsApp users in Jordan and Lebanon. This follows a US court's permanent injunction barring NSO from targeting WhatsApp users after a previous lawsuit where Meta was awarded damages. Meta has asked the court to find NSO in contempt.
Key points
- Meta announced it disrupted spear-phishing attempts by NSO Group targeting a small number of WhatsApp users in Jordan and Lebanon.
- NSO Group, an Israeli firm under US ownership, allegedly created test accounts and groups on WhatsApp.
- This action allegedly violates a permanent injunction issued by a US court after Meta won a lawsuit against NSO.
- Meta was previously awarded $167 million in damages, later reduced, but the injunction barred NSO from targeting WhatsApp users.
- Meta has requested the court hold NSO Group in contempt of its order.
- Experts suggest this defiance signals NSO's perceived ability to evade consequences or belief in special treatment.
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has reported that the spyware firm NSO Group violated a US court order by targeting WhatsApp users. According to Meta's statement, the company detected and halted spear-phishing attacks orchestrated by NSO, which affected a limited number of individuals in Jordan and Lebanon.
NSO Group, known for its sophisticated Pegasus spyware, was previously found liable by a US court for exploiting WhatsApp's vulnerabilities to target users. Last year, Meta was awarded $167 million in damages, though this amount was later reduced. Crucially, the court issued a permanent injunction preventing NSO from targeting WhatsApp and its user base.
Meta asserts that these recent actions constitute a clear breach of the injunction. The tech giant has formally requested the court to declare NSO Group in contempt of its order. Observers have noted the alleged defiance as a significant signal, potentially indicating NSO's confidence in avoiding accountability or their belief in a unique immunity.
Sources
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