Meta Stock: WhatsApp Takes Action Against NSO Group Spyware

TLDR

• Meta is filing a federal contempt order against Israeli spyware firm NSO Group for allegedly violating a permanent injunction.
• WhatsApp disrupted new spear-phishing attempts linked to NSO that tried to lure users to malicious websites.
• NSO has been blacklisted by the U.S. government over national security and foreign policy concerns.
• A U.S. court previously ordered NSO to stop targeting WhatsApp, and the company warned the ruling could put it out of business.
• Meta said it took down test accounts and groups created by NSO on its platform, and has support from 12 civil rights organizations in fighting the appeal.

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Meta filed a federal court contempt motion against NSO Group on Monday, accusing the Israeli spyware maker of violating a permanent injunction that barred it from targeting WhatsApp and its users.

META stock was trading at around $692 on Monday as the news broke.

Meta Platforms, Inc., META

The move escalates a legal battle that has already resulted in a landmark court win for Meta. A U.S. court last year ordered NSO to pay $4 million in damages — reduced from an initial $167 million — and permanently banned the company from targeting WhatsApp.

Despite that ban, Meta says NSO didn’t stop.

WhatsApp detected new “spear phishing” campaigns linked to NSO in recent weeks. These attacks attempted to trick users into clicking malicious links that redirected them to external websites — a method Meta describes as a “1-click phishing” attack, where a single click can compromise a device or account without the user entering any credentials.

Meta said WhatsApp identified and took down test accounts and groups that NSO had reportedly created on the platform. NSO did not respond to a request for comment.

What the Phishing Attacks Looked Like

The attacks were described as similar to previous campaigns carried out by NSO. A malicious link would be sent to a target; one click was enough to potentially install surveillance software, no password or login required.

NSO’s flagship product, Pegasus, has been at the center of the accusations. Meta and WhatsApp previously accused NSO of using a WhatsApp vulnerability to install Pegasus on more than 1,400 devices. Reported targets included journalists, government officials, and humanitarian workers.

The U.S. government has blacklisted NSO Group, citing activities contrary to national security and foreign policy interests. NSO previously warned that the court’s permanent injunction could effectively put it out of business.

Coalition Backing Meta’s Legal Push

Last month, 12 civil rights organizations joined Meta’s fight against NSO’s appeal of the injunction. The coalition includes security researchers, privacy advocates, and digital rights experts who filed amicus briefs in support of Meta’s position.

Meta called spyware a “national security threat” and said no company can take on surveillance-for-hire firms alone.

The contempt filing is Meta’s latest step to enforce the court order and keep NSO from operating on its platforms. The case will now return to federal court.

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