March 1, 2024 at 04:43PM
Israel-based NSO Group has been ordered by a California federal judge to share the source code for its Pegasus spyware with Meta’s WhatsApp due to a 2019 lawsuit for alleged spying on 1,400 users. The ruling covers the period from April 2018 to May 2020 and represents a legal setback for NSO, though it can withhold client and server architecture details.
Based on the meeting notes, the key points to take away are:
– NSO Group, the maker of Pegasus spyware, has been ordered by a federal judge in California to share the source code for relevant spyware with Meta’s WhatsApp.
– This ruling stems from WhatsApp’s 2019 lawsuit against NSO for allegedly spying on 1,400 WhatsApp users.
– The court order covers Pegasus and other relevant NSO spyware from April 29, 2018, to May 10, 2020, representing a significant legal setback for NSO Group.
– However, the judge allowed NSO to withhold its client list and details about its server architecture.
– NSO Group has declined to comment on the record and maintains that it only sells spyware to authorized government customers for lawful surveillance.
– Pressure has been mounting to curtail the sale of sophisticated spyware, leading to sanctions against commercial spyware vendors and inquiries into alleged use of Pegasus spyware against political figures and journalists in countries like Poland and Spain.
– Despite NSO Group’s claims, Amnesty International has documented the use of Pegasus against human rights defenders and journalists, and there is disappointment that NSO won’t have to reveal the clients responsible for the alleged unlawful targeting of WhatsApp users.
This summary captures the key details of the meeting notes and provides a clear, concise overview of the developments related to NSO Group and its legal challenges.