Washington, October 19 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) – A U.S. federal court has permanently barred the controversial Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group from targeting the servers and users of Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp, a ruling the company contends threatens its very existence. The decision culminates a landmark legal battle that spotlights the global fight against sophisticated digital espionage tools.
In a definitive 25-page ruling issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton imposed a permanent injunction prohibiting NSO from any attempts to access WhatsApp’s systems. The judge concurrently delivered a significant financial reprieve to the embattled firm, slashing the punitive damages it owes Meta from a jury-awarded $167 million to approximately $4 million. While the reduced penalty offers NSO some relief, the injunction presents a profound operational challenge for a company repeatedly accused of enabling human rights abuses worldwide through its flagship Pegasus spyware.
The Pegasus software operates by exploiting vulnerabilities in ubiquitous digital platforms, making a widely used service like WhatsApp a prime target for its surveillance capabilities. NSO had vehemently opposed the injunction, arguing in court that such a ban “would put NSO’s entire enterprise at risk” and could “force NSO out of business.”
Meta executives hailed the court’s decision as a major victory. “Today’s ruling bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users again,” declared WhatsApp head Will Cathcart in a post on the social media platform X. “We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society.”
In a statement, NSO struck a conciliatory note on the financial aspect, saying it “welcomed” the 97 percent reduction in punitive damages. The company further sought to downplay the injunction’s impact, asserting that the order does not apply to its government clients, “who will continue using the company’s technology to help protect public safety.” NSO has long maintained that its products are vital tools for combating serious crime and terrorism.
