A US court has ordered NSO Group, a cyber-weapon maker notorious for its spy tools, including the infamous Pegasus software, to hand over the source codes of Pegasus and other WhatsApp spyware products.
The ruling, issued by US judge Phyllis Hamilton, marks a significant victory for Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp, which has been embroiled in a legal battle against NSO since 2019, The Guardian reports.
The Pegasus code, along with the codes for other NSO tracking products, are considered top secret state secrets. NSO Group operates under the supervision of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which carefully reviews and approves all license sales to foreign governments.
A WhatsApp spokesperson hailed the court’s decision as a major milestone in protecting users from illegal cyber attacks. The spokesperson emphasized that spyware entities must be aware of the consequences of their actions and understand that they are subject to legal consequences.
It is worth noting that the NSO Group faced sanctions from the Biden administration in 2021 after an assessment that the Israeli company’s activities ran counter to US foreign policy and national security interests.
The injunction is a significant step toward holding NSO Group accountable for its actions and underscores the growing global scrutiny over the proliferation of cyberespionage tools. As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how this decision will shape the landscape of digital privacy and security in the coming years.
