NSO Group owes $168M in damages to WhatsApp over spyware infections, jury says | CyberScoop<\/title> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/nso-group-owes-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NSO Group owes $168M in damages to WhatsApp over spyware infections, jury says\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s a major ruling in a landmark lawsuit that has had plenty of twists and turns \u2014 with more likely to come.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/nso-group-owes-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cyberscoop\/\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-06T21:28:24+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" 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class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.71652173913\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"34.389473684211\">\n<p> It\u2019s a major ruling in a landmark lawsuit that has had plenty of twists and turns \u2014 with more likely to come. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/84429\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says.jpg?resize=640%2C461&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=300,216 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=768,553 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=1024,737 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=1536,1106 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=600,432 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=233,168 233w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=468,337 468w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=938,675 938w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-2.jpg?resize=1171,843 1171w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 938px) 100vw, 938px\"><figcaption> In this photo illustration a car’s Apple CarPlay screen displays the logo of Meta’s instant messaging service WhatsApp, on January 15, 2025 in Bath, England. (Photo by Anna Barclay\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"29.9400119976\"><body readability=\"61.10955243821\"><\/p>\n<p>A federal jury decided Tuesday that NSO Group must pay WhatsApp approximately $168 million in damages after a judge ruled that it violated anti-hacking laws when 1,400 of the messaging application\u2019s users became infected with Pegasus spyware.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the latest in a series of wins in court for WhatsApp in its pioneering lawsuit that has produced revelations about the spyware maker\u2019s operations \u2014 and captured the Supreme Court\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n<p>In December, Northern California District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/judge-grants-ruling-in-favor-of-whatsapp-against-spyware-firm-nso-group\/\">ruled in favor<\/a> of WhatsApp in its civil case. Beyond violations of U.S. and California anti-hacking laws, the judge also found fault with NSO Group over court orders to produce evidence. <\/p>\n<p>Now, the jury has settled on nearly $167.3 million in punitive damages and $444,719 in compensatory damages that NSO Group must pay. Hamilton had <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/whatsapp-nso-group-trial-judge-limits-evidence-2025\/\">limited the kinds of evidence<\/a> NSO Group could use in making its case before the jury.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cToday\u2019s verdict in WhatsApp\u2019s case is an important step forward for privacy and security as the first victory against the development and use of illegal spyware that threatens the safety and privacy of everyone,\u201d Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, said in a forthcoming blog post. \u201cToday, the jury\u2019s decision to force NSO, a notorious foreign spyware merchant, to pay damages is a critical deterrent to this malicious industry against their illegal acts aimed at American companies and the privacy and security of the people we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>NSO Group spokesman Gil Lanier responded to the ruling by saying that \u201cwe firmly believe that our technology plays a critical role in preventing serious crime and terrorism and is deployed responsibly by authorized government agencies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis perspective, validated by extensive real-world evidence and numerous security operations that have saved many lives, including American lives, was excluded from the jury\u2019s consideration in this case,\u201d he continued. \u201cNSO remains fully committed to its mission to develop technologies that protect public safety, while continuously strengthening our industry-leading compliance framework and ensuring our technology is deployed solely for their legitimate, authorized purposes by legitimate sovereign governments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Both sides said they expect additional court action before all is said and done.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn this specific case, we know we have a long road ahead to collect awarded damages from NSO and we plan to do so,\u201d the Meta post reads. \u201cUltimately, we would like to make a donation to digital rights organizations that are working to defend people against such attacks around the world. Our next step is to secure a court order to prevent NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp again.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Said Lanier: \u201cToday\u2019s jury decision marks another step in a lengthy judicial process. \u2026 We will carefully examine the verdict\u2019s details and pursue appropriate legal remedies, including further proceedings and an appeal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he’s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div 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{"id":7616,"date":"2025-05-06T16:28:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T21:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=84429"},"modified":"2025-05-06T16:28:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T21:28:24","slug":"nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2025\/05\/06\/nso-group-owes-168m-in-damages-to-whatsapp-over-spyware-infections-jury-says\/","title":{"rendered":"NSO Group owes $168M in damages to WhatsApp over spyware infections, jury says"},"content":{"rendered":"