Israel Secretly Installed Pegasus On Whatsapp To Spy On Journalists And Dissidents, Finds US Court
Date
12/21/2024 10:16:08 PM
(MENAFN- Live Mint) In a significant development in favour of Meta Platforms' WhatsApp, a US court found Israeli tech firm NSO Group liable for hacking the devices of 1,400 messaging app users, allowing unathorised surveillance. The developments comes months after an investigation suggested that Pegasus software was used to spy on many Indians, including journalists, politicians, Opposition leaders.
In 2021, New Delhi was accused of using Pegasus spyware to surveil journalists, opposition politicians and activists, with leaked documents showing the spyware had been used against more than 1,000 Indian phone numbers. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was among those targeted .
The NSO Group is accused of exploiting a bug in the messaging app to install spy software allowing unauthorised surveillance. US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, granted a motion by WhatsApp and found NSO liable for hacking and breach of contract.
The case will now proceed to a trial only on the issue of damages. The NSO Group did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
'ILLEGAL SPYING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED'
Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp, said the ruling is a win for privacy.“We spent five years presenting our case because we firmly believe that spyware companies could not hide behind immunity or avoid accountability for their unlawful actions,” Will Cathcart said in a social media post.
"Surveillance companies should be on notice that illegal spying will not be tolerated ."
Another WhatsApp spokesperson said they were grateful for the decision.“We're proud to have stood up against NSO and thankful to the many organizations that were supportive of this case. WhatsApp will never stop working to protect people's private communication,” he said.
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