Israeli spyware firm NSO ordered to pay Meta, WhatsApp nearly $170 million over hacking

A federal jury in California ordered Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group on Tuesday to pay Meta and WhatsApp nearly $170 million for hacking about 1,400 users on the instant messaging platform. 

The spyware vendor, which created the Pegasus surveillance tool, has to pay $167,256,000 in punitive damages and another $440,000 in compensatory damages. The verdict, which presents a win for privacy advocates and Meta, comes after six years of litigation. 

WhatsApp sued NSO...