US judge finds Israel’s NSO Group liable for hacking in WhatsApp lawsuit

TORONTO (Reuters) – A U.S. judge ruled on Friday in favor of Meta (NASDAQ:META) Platform Inc’s WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel’s NSO Group of exploiting a bug in the WhatsApp messaging app to install spy software allowing the surveillance of 1,400 people, including journalists, human rights activists and dissidents.

Judge Phyllis Hamilton, of Northern District of California, granted WhatsApp’s motion for summary judgment and found NSO Group liable for hacking and breach of contract, according to court documents.