• Meta Platforms wins a $168 million verdict against NSO Group for spyware violations.
• The jury awarded $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167.3 million in punitive damages.
• Meta emphasized the case as a significant step for privacy and security against illegal spyware.
• NSO Group is known for its Pegasus software, which has been implicated in various surveillance abuses.
• The trial revealed NSO's operations and the extent of its reach in terms of global surveillance.

Meta Platforms has achieved a significant legal victory by winning a $168 million verdict against the Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group, concluding a prolonged legal battle that has spanned six years. A California jury ordered NSO to pay Meta $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167.3 million in punitive damages following the company’s unlawful exploitation of a bug in WhatsApp, which it used to deploy spyware on users' phones, as highlighted in statements from both Meta and court proceedings, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The lawsuit, initiated by WhatsApp in late 2019, accused NSO of utilizing its Pegasus software to install spyware that compromised user privacy and security. During the trial, evidence emerged that NSO allocated tens of millions annually to enhance methods for installing spyware not just on WhatsApp, but across various platforms and apps, indicating a broader threat, according to India Times and Channel News Asia.

Meta's spokesperson stated, "Today's verdict in WhatsApp's 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.” The tech giant aims to target malicious technologies that present risks to the entire digital ecosystem. The firm also declared its commitment to pursuing legal actions against spyware vendors across the industry, as reported by Reuters and India Times.

NSO Group, meanwhile, maintained its position on the use of its technology, asserting that it plays a vital role in combating serious crime and terrorism, and plans to consider further legal remedies against the verdict. The firm has been accused of collaborating with government agencies to conduct surveillance in various countries, often resulting in abuses of privacy. Their practices have come under scrutiny, especially involving countries such as Saudi Arabia and Mexico, as mentioned by Channel News Asia and Reuters.