Meta-owned WhatsApp gets US Supreme Court nod to pursue ‘Pegasus’ spyware suit: All the details – Times of India
The US Supreme Court has given a green light to Meta-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp to pursue a lawsuit against NSO Group. The company is suing the Israel-based company for exploiting a bug in the WhatsApp messaging app to install spy software. The software was then used in the surveillance of 1,400 people, including journalists, human rights activists and dissidents globally.
What is the Whatsapp pegasus spyware case
WhatsApp in 2019 sued NSO Group accusing the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm for accessing WhatsApp servers without permission six months earlier to install the Pegasus software on victims’ mobile devices.
The software was then used to spy on media persons and activists, including at least 40 journalists from India. In one case, NSO spyware was used – allegedly by the Saudi government – to target the inner circle of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered in Istanbul.
As per a report by news agency Reuters, US President Joe Biden‘s administration had urged the justices to reject NSO’s appeal. Meta sought an injunction and damages from NSO.
What does Meta have to say about the US Supreme Court decision?
Meta, the parent company of both WhatsApp and Facebook, has welcomed the court’s move to turn away NSO’s “baseless” appeal.
“NSO’s spyware has enabled cyberattacks targeting human rights activists, journalists and government officials. We firmly believe that their operations violate US law and they must be held to account for their unlawful operations,” Meta said.
What NSO told the US court?
NSO argued that it is immune from being sued because it was acting as an agent for unidentified foreign governments when it installed the “Pegasus” spyware.
The company also argued that Pegasus helps law enforcement and intelligence agencies fight crime and protect national security and that its technology is intended to help catch terrorists, paedophiles and hardened criminals, the Reuters report noted.
How many WhatsApp users were targeted?
According to court papers, the accounts of 1,400 WhatsApp users were accessed using the Pegasus tracking software. A 2021 investigation by 17 media organisations revealed that the spyware had been used in successful hacks of smartphones belonging to journalists, government officials and human rights activists globally.
iPhone maker Apple also sued NSO Group in 2021 accusing the company of violating its user terms and services agreement.
Pegasus ‘snooped’ on Indian journalists
In 2019, WhatsApp reportedly confirmed that the Israeli spyware was used to snoop on over two dozen academics, lawyers, journalists and Dalit activists in India. According to media reports, the targeted surveillance took place during the run-up to the 2019 General Elections. WhatsApp, however, did not reveal the names and the exact number of the users whose phones were remotely hijacked.
Pegasus and its use
The Pegasus spyware is created by Israel-based NSO Group which claims to work with the authorised government only. Pegasus is publicly known to be used by Mexico and Panama governments. It has 60 customers across 40 countries. The company said that 51% of its users belong to Intelligence Agencies, 38% to law enforcement agencies and 11% military.
The company’s website reads, “Our products help licensed government intelligence and law-enforcement agencies lawfully address the most dangerous issues in today’s world. NSO’s technology has helped prevent terrorism, break up criminal operations, find missing persons, and assist search and rescue teams.”
What is the Whatsapp pegasus spyware case
WhatsApp in 2019 sued NSO Group accusing the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm for accessing WhatsApp servers without permission six months earlier to install the Pegasus software on victims’ mobile devices.
The software was then used to spy on media persons and activists, including at least 40 journalists from India. In one case, NSO spyware was used – allegedly by the Saudi government – to target the inner circle of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered in Istanbul.
As per a report by news agency Reuters, US President Joe Biden‘s administration had urged the justices to reject NSO’s appeal. Meta sought an injunction and damages from NSO.
What does Meta have to say about the US Supreme Court decision?
Meta, the parent company of both WhatsApp and Facebook, has welcomed the court’s move to turn away NSO’s “baseless” appeal.
“NSO’s spyware has enabled cyberattacks targeting human rights activists, journalists and government officials. We firmly believe that their operations violate US law and they must be held to account for their unlawful operations,” Meta said.
What NSO told the US court?
NSO argued that it is immune from being sued because it was acting as an agent for unidentified foreign governments when it installed the “Pegasus” spyware.
The company also argued that Pegasus helps law enforcement and intelligence agencies fight crime and protect national security and that its technology is intended to help catch terrorists, paedophiles and hardened criminals, the Reuters report noted.
How many WhatsApp users were targeted?
According to court papers, the accounts of 1,400 WhatsApp users were accessed using the Pegasus tracking software. A 2021 investigation by 17 media organisations revealed that the spyware had been used in successful hacks of smartphones belonging to journalists, government officials and human rights activists globally.
iPhone maker Apple also sued NSO Group in 2021 accusing the company of violating its user terms and services agreement.
Pegasus ‘snooped’ on Indian journalists
In 2019, WhatsApp reportedly confirmed that the Israeli spyware was used to snoop on over two dozen academics, lawyers, journalists and Dalit activists in India. According to media reports, the targeted surveillance took place during the run-up to the 2019 General Elections. WhatsApp, however, did not reveal the names and the exact number of the users whose phones were remotely hijacked.
Pegasus and its use
The Pegasus spyware is created by Israel-based NSO Group which claims to work with the authorised government only. Pegasus is publicly known to be used by Mexico and Panama governments. It has 60 customers across 40 countries. The company said that 51% of its users belong to Intelligence Agencies, 38% to law enforcement agencies and 11% military.
The company’s website reads, “Our products help licensed government intelligence and law-enforcement agencies lawfully address the most dangerous issues in today’s world. NSO’s technology has helped prevent terrorism, break up criminal operations, find missing persons, and assist search and rescue teams.”
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