Facebook, WhatsApp hacking suit against NSO Group to proceed
America ı By Jackie Allen
0 Comments
U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton of California ruled that the Facebook lawsuit filed against NSO Group could proceed.
The judge dismissed NSO Group's arguments that the company was acting as a contractor to governments, which gave it immunity and allowed its’ clients privacy.
"In light of these divergent doctrines and the lack of controlling authority, there is no compelling reason to extend derivative sovereign immunity to a foreign entity working on behalf of a foreign sovereign," said Judge Hamilton.
Facebook claims NSO hacked WhatsApp
The suit was filed in October, 2019, against the Israeli surveillance company, NSO Group. It is alleged that NSO had run targeted hacking campaigns against users via the WhatsApp messenger service.
The suit also alleges that NSO Group blatantly violated the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, breach of contract, and trespass to chattels. Facebook and WhatsApp are seeking an injunction to permanently ban the NSO Group from using WhatsApp.
In court documents, Facebook alleges that the NSO Group illegally developed a data program, called "Pegasus" and used it to spy on WhatsApp users. Court documents claim NSO was spying on political dissidents, diplomats, journalists, and human rights activists.
Pegasus spyware allegedly used to hack WhatsApp
The hacking was first reported in May, 2019, by the Financial Times. Targeted phones could be infected with the malware without answering the phone or taking any action. Both iPhones and Android devices were hit.
On Tuesday, July 20, 2020, a Bank Info Security article reported that NSO used reverse-engineering of WhatsApp to develop an exploit that delivers Pegasus spyware to targeted devices. The user does not have to respond when the attacker initiates a video call to a device.
Pegasus spyware is highly controversial. It can intercept communications, as well as extract browser history and contacts.
NSO has legal victory in an Israeli court
NSO Group scored a legal victory earlier this month in Israel over its use of Pegasus spyware. An Israeli court dismissed a petition filed by Amnesty International in 2018.
The petition requested that Israel cancel the NSO’s security export license. Amnesty International accused the Israel-based tech firm of selling hacking tools to governments around the world.
On Sunday, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the court ruled that Amnesty International did not produce enough evidence and failed to show that NSO's Pegasus tool was used to spy on activists. The court ruling allows NSO Group to continue exporting its software and tools.
Discussion
No comments yet. Be the first to join the discussion!
FOLLOW US
Recent Posts
Southern Poverty Law Center Indictments Linked to Former Official and…
Michigan Couple Sentenced Following Disturbing Abuse Case Spanning Across Two…
Missouri Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Possessing Machine Gun…
The Massive Cultural Divide Between the Obama Center Gala and…
From the Front Lines to the Big Screen: Sean Penn…
7 Candid Revelations Bunnie Xo Made About Her Marriage to…
SpaceX Shakes Up Wall Street: Massive $60 Billion Acquisition of…
Don’t Miss It
Did Tom Holland and Zendaya’s Families Attend Their Wedding? The Actor Reveals All
By – Tyler BrooksOver 400 cats were liberated by Vietnamese police after being held by a criminal animal theft network
By – Tyler BrooksUnlock the Unexplained: Hearst Networks Launches MysteryX Exclusively on Prime Video
By – Tyler BrooksSteven Spielberg’s Urgent Call for UFO Disclosure: Why the Legend of Sci-Fi is Demanding the Truth
By – Tyler BrooksAnna Kepner Killing: Federal Judge Orders Jail for Stepbrother Amid ‘Psychopathy’ Concerns
By – Jackie AllenGM and Lockheed Martin Shock the Defense World with Major New Partnership to Ramp Up U.S. Munitions Production
By – Rachel MooreSpaceX Stuns the World with $60 Billion All-Stock Takeover of Hot AI Coding Startup Cursor
By – Rihem Akkouche12 Killed in Horrific Skydiving Plane Crash in Missouri — Victims Include Beloved Music Teacher, Cancer Survivor, and New Father of Twins
By – Rihem Akkouche
Kelly Warner Law Firm Blames USA…
In what appears as a desperate attempt to defend multiple…
By – USA Herald
Aaron Kelly Law Firm Resorts To…
Attorney Aaron Kelly and his law partner Daniel Warner are…
By – Jeff Watterson
Arizona Bar Opens Investigation on Attorney…
USA Herald recently reported on a developing story involving Attorneys…
By – Paul O'Neal
First Tropical Storm of 2026 Season…
Forecasters are closely tracking what could become the first tropical…
By – Rihem Akkouche
Russia Shadow Fleet Captain Faces UK…
The captain of a Russian Shadow Fleet tanker intercepted by…
By – Jackie Allen
8 Killed in ‘Unsurvivable’ B-52 Bomber…
A powerful U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber has crashed…
By – Rihem Akkouche
FBI Thwarts Chilling Drone & Sniper…
Federal authorities say they have disrupted a disturbing alleged plot…
By – Rihem Akkouche
Justice or Privilege? The Unsettling Truth…
It is a date that has left many observers stunned…
By – Tyler Brooks
Trump: Magneto’s Secret Weapon to Fuel…
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing for one of its…
By – Tyler Brooks
Body Found Floating in Queens Park…
A Body Found Floating in a pond at a quiet…
By – Jackie Allen
Trump Ordered Anthropic to Pull Its…
On June 13, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sent a letter…
By – Nicolas Carreno
ZCash Security Scare Raises Questions About…
ZCash has found itself at the center of a major…
By – Jackie Allen
Intelligence Gaps and National Security Debates…
The expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance…
By – Tyler Brooks
Oliver Tree Dies at 32 in…
Oliver Tree, the genre-blending singer, songwriter, and internet personality was…
By – Jackie Allen
The Pentagon Dropped Its Third UFO…
The files keep coming. And with each drop, the official…
By – Nicolas Carreno
The Pursuit of Biological Immortality and…
The objective was clear, articulated in the sterile language of…
By – Tyler Brooks
New York Chaos Erupts After Knicks…
New York Chaos unfolded across the city after the New…
By – Jackie Allen
New York Knicks End 53-Year Championship…
The New York Knicks have finally climbed back to the…
By – Jackie Allen
Paramount and Warner Brothers Merger Approved…
The proposed Paramount and Warner Brothers Merger has cleared a…
By – Jackie Allen
David Geffen Reunites With Ex-Husband Aboard…
David Geffen is making headlines again after being spotted spending…
By – Jackie Allen
Me Too Fallout Deepens as French…
The Me Too movement continues to reshape France’s entertainment industry…
By – Jackie Allen
Me Too Fallout Deepens as French…
The Me Too movement continues to reshape France’s entertainment industry…
By – Jackie Allen
Iran Agreed to US Demands: Trump…
In a major diplomatic development, Iran Agreed to US Demands,…
By – Jackie AllenThe Me Too movement continues to reshape the entertainment industry…
By – Jackie Allen
Fatal Accident in Tulsa: Oklahoma Father…
A Fatal Accident in Tulsa that claimed the life of…
By – Jackie Allen
“You’re Killing Me” Brings Brooke Shields…
“You’re Killing Me” is one of Acorn TV’s newest mystery…
By – Jackie Allen
Karmelo Anthony Sentenced to 35 Years…
The case of Karmelo Anthony has drawn widespread attention across…
By – Jackie Allen
Trump: Magneto’s Secret Weapon to Fuel…
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing for one of its…
By – Tyler Brooks
Dana White Declares The Historic UFC…
WASHINGTON D.C. — It was 3:00 a.m. on Monday, and…
By – Tyler Brooks
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Daughter:…
Time in the spotlight moves faster than most people realize…
By – Tyler Brooks
Cruise Ship Horror: Teen Accused in…
The legal saga surrounding the tragic death of 18-year-old Anna…
By – Tyler Brooks
What We Know About the Edwards…
A tragic accident occurred Monday morning at Edwards Air Force…
By – Tyler Brooks
B-52 Crashed at Edwards Air Force…
Eight people are believed dead after a U.S. Air Force…
By – Nicolas Carreno
Nichelle Nichols’ Final Mission Ends in…
By Samuel López | USA Herald The woman who helped…
By – Samuel Lopez
Cannabis Giants Hit with Sweeping Class…
A major class action filed May 4, 2026, accuses five…
By – Samuel Lopez
New Pill Doubles Survival for Pancreatic…
Pancreatic cancer pill doubles life to 13 months By Tyler…
By – Tyler Brooks
FDA warns public as cookie firm…
FDA warns public as cookie firm rejects urgent recall request…
By – Tyler Brooks
Trump orders CDC to slash childhood…
Trump orders CDC to slash childhood vaccines from 17 to…
By – Tyler Brooks
USDA warns Americans over Salmonella in…
USDA warns Americans over Salmonella in meat products By Tylor…
By – Tyler Brooks
Pulisic Is Not Training. What Happens…
Mauricio Pochettino pulled Christian Pulisic at halftime of the USMNT’s…
By – Nicolas Carreno
Mexico vs South Africa World Cup…
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, but the…
By – Rihem Akkouche
FIFA World Cup 2026: Gianni Infantino…
The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 has transformed…
By – Tyler Brooks
The Halfway House Showdown: Convicted Serial…
Justice. Accountability. Public Safety. For the survivors who faced Darren…
By – Tyler Brooks
New York Knicks NBA Finals Game…
The New York Knicks took center stage during Game 3…
By – Jackie Allen
Chinese Company Blocked from Claiming Olympic…
By Samuel López | USA Herald The Olympic rings are…
By – Samuel LopezNo posts found.
No posts found.
