Meta Says NSO Violated WhatsApp Ban, Risks Contempt After $4 Million Injunction
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 9
Meta Says NSO Violated WhatsApp Ban, Risks Contempt After $4 Million Injunction
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 9
Summary
Meta said WhatsApp disrupted NSO Group spear-phishing attempts against fewer than 10 users in Jordan and Lebanon and found the spyware firm creating test accounts and groups.
The company told a US court those actions breached a permanent injunction imposed after NSO lost a WhatsApp hacking case; damages were later cut from $167 million to $4 million.
NSO built Pegasus, spyware that previously exploited a WhatsApp flaw to extract messages, photos and calls, and Meta is asking the court to hold the company in contempt.
The accusation lands as NSO, now under US ownership, seeks access to the US market and relief from a Commerce Department blacklist tied to Pegasus abuses.