Federal Jury Orders NSO Group to Pay $170 Million to WhatsApp in Landmark Spyware Case

A federal jury in San Jose, California, has ordered the Israeli cybersecurity company NSO to pay nearly $170 million to WhatsApp after ruling that the firm used the messaging platform to spy on around 1,500 individuals, including journalists, human rights advocates, and political dissidents, in 2019. The jury’s decision marks the conclusion of a lengthy six-year legal battle. WhatsApp described the ruling as a significant outcome for privacy rights and a precedent against the misuse of illegal spyware. In its statement, the company highlighted the serious implications that the use of such technologies can have … Read more

Federal Jury Slaps NSO Group with $168 Million Verdict for Hacking WhatsApp Users Amid Ongoing Controversy Over Spyware Ethics

OAKLAND, Calif. — A federal jury awarded $168 million to Meta Platforms Inc. on Tuesday after finding that the Israeli tech firm NSO Group unlawfully accessed the messaging service WhatsApp to hack the accounts of 1,400 users in 2019. In a statement following the verdict, NSO Group expressed its intention to appeal the decision, maintaining its defense of the Pegasus spyware, which it claims plays a vital role in combating crime and terrorism when used by authorized government agencies. NSO’s Vice President for Global Communications, Gil Kanier, emphasized that the jury’s ruling represents merely another … Read more

NSO Group Hit with $167 Million Penalty in WhatsApp Hacking Case

AUSTIN, Texas — The Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group has been ordered to pay $167 million after being found liable for its role in hacking into the messaging platform WhatsApp. This ruling represents a significant legal setback for the company, which has faced numerous allegations regarding the misuse of its spyware technology. The court’s decision stems from a high-profile case initiated by WhatsApp in 2019, claiming that NSO Group facilitated cyberattacks on thousands of users. The company allegedly exploited a vulnerability in the app, enabling it to implant malicious software on devices belonging to targeted … Read more

Miami Jury Awards $3 Million to Man Injured by Faulty Airbag in 2020 Crash

MIAMI — A jury in South Florida has ruled in favor of Jose Hernandez, awarding him $3 million after he suffered severe injuries from a malfunctioning airbag in a vehicle crash in 2020. The verdict was delivered on Thursday by a panel of jurors in Miami-Dade County, following a lawsuit Hernandez filed in 2022. The lawsuit targeted the Takata Airbag Tort Compensation Trust Fund, created as part of Takata’s bankruptcy proceedings, to address claims related to their defective airbags. Hernandez sustained life-altering injuries when the airbag deployed improperly during the crash. The case highlights ongoing … Read more