WhatsApp was the target of a massive hack orchestrated via formidable spyware. Users were spied on without knowing it. The American justice system has just imposed a record fine on the company responsible.
Spyware represents an increasingly present threat in our digital lives. Used by criminals, but also by certain governments, these tools allow remote access to messages, photos, and even the microphone or camera of a smartphone. Some companies claim to sell these technologies to fight terrorism. However, in reality, they are also used to monitor journalists, activists, or political opponents. This misuse raises many concerns among defenders of individual freedoms.
It is in this context that NSO Group, an Israeli company specializing in this type of software, was convicted by an American court. It will have to pay $167 million (approximately €155 million) to Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp. This penalty follows a massive cyberattack revealed in 2019: by exploiting a technical flaw, the Pegasus spyware, designed by the latter, was able to be remotely installed on approximately 1,400 smartphones via the messaging service. The operation took place without users clicking on anything, which makes it particularly dangerous. Meta wins against the manufacturer of the Pegasus spyware The judgment finds NSO responsible for this targeted hack. Meta considers this victory an important step for privacy protection. The American giant claims that the Israeli company spends tens of millions of dollars each year developing new intrusion methods. In addition to the $167 million, it will also have to pay $444,000 (approximately €410,000) in compensatory damages.
For its part, NSO denies any liability and claims that its software is only sold to official agencies. The company plans to appeal. Meta acknowledges that recovering the amounts owed will be complex, but believes this decision is symbolically powerful. Other companies, such as Apple, had also filed lawsuits against the company before backing out of fear of having to reveal sensitive information about their security systems.
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