Judge denies WhatsApp bid to hold NSO Group in contempt
A Northern California federal judge ruled WhatsApp failed to prove NSO Group violated a 2025 injunction barring it from using the messaging app's infrastructure for attacks. Judge Phyllis Hamilton said the company did not provide clear and convincing evidence, relying only on testimony from one Meta engineer.
- Court found evidence based on a single Meta engineer's testimony insufficient
- NSO was fined $4.4 million in 2025 in WhatsApp's case
- WhatsApp feared revealing how it detects Pegasus attacks
- Rights advocates warn the ruling could grant spyware makers impunity
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