Judge bans spyware maker NSO from targeting WhatsApp

20-Oct-2025

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A US federal court has issued a permanent injunction against Israeli spyware developer NSO Group, barring the company from targeting Meta Platforms' WhatsApp messaging service. 

The ruling, delivered by District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton on October 17, marks a significant development in the long-running legal battle between Meta and NSO, which has faced global scrutiny over the alleged misuse of its Pegasus spyware. 

The decision comes shortly after NSO was reportedly acquired by a group led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds, as noted in recent coverage by TechCrunch. The company, responding to the outcome, stated that it would review the decision and determine its next steps accordingly.

NSO Group has frequently defended its surveillance technology as a tool for combating serious crime and terrorism, but the latest judicial order poses a direct threat to its business operations. 

NSO previously warned in court filings that restrictions on its ability to target WhatsApp "would put NSO’s entire enterprise at risk" and could "force NSO out of business." 

The company’s Pegasus software has gained notoriety for exploiting vulnerabilities in widely-used communication platforms, including WhatsApp, to conduct sophisticated surveillance operations.

The ruling, spanning 25 pages, not only halts NSO’s targeting of WhatsApp but also slashes the punitive damages imposed by a recent jury verdict. Judge Hamilton reduced the amount owed by NSO to Meta from approximately $167 million to $4 million. 

While this offers some reprieve to the spyware firm, the broader business implications of the permanent injunction remain substantial, given WhatsApp’s global user base and NSO’s historic focus on the platform.