WhatsApp can sue Israeli firm NSO Group, US appeals court rules
3 years, 1 month ago

WhatsApp can sue Israeli firm NSO Group, US appeals court rules

Al Jazeera  

Israeli company NSO Group does not enjoy sovereign immunity protecting foreign gov’ts from US lawsuits, court says. On Monday, a three-judge panel on the San Francisco-based Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision to allow WhatsApp’s lawsuit to proceed, stressing that NSO Group does not qualify for sovereign immunity even if its clients are foreign government agencies. The San Francisco court’s decision comes amid renewed scrutiny of NSO Group’s activities and less than a week after the Biden administration sanctioned the firm after accusing it of enabling “transnational repression” with its spyware. Meanwhile, a WhatsApp spokesperson welcomed the US court’s decision on Monday, calling it “an important step in holding NSO accountable for its attacks against journalists, human rights defenders and government leaders”.

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History of this topic

US judge finds Israel's NSO Group liable for hacking in WhatsApp lawsuit
1 day, 13 hours ago

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

Deccan Chronicle  

A U.S. judge ruled on Friday in favor of Meta Platforms' WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a bug in the messaging app to install spy software for unauthorized surveillance. “We spent five years presenting our case because we firmly believe that spyware companies cannot hide behind immunity or avoid accountability for their unlawful actions,” he …

US Court Finds NSO Liable For Hacking Of WhatsApp Using Pegasus Malware
Top News
2 days, 9 hours ago

US Court Finds NSO Liable For Hacking Of WhatsApp Using Pegasus Malware

Live Law  

In a summary judgment, Judge Phyllis Hamilton of the US District Court in Oakland, Northern District of California has found Israeli-mercenary's surveillance firm NSO Group Technologies liable for the hacking of Meta's Whatsapp through its state-of-the-art military-grade malware Pegasus. The Court has found that NSO violated the Computer Fraud & Abuse Act, and Comprehensive Computer Data Access & Fraud Act …

US Court Finds NSO Liable For Hacking Of WhatsApp Using Pegasus Malware
Top News
2 days, 9 hours ago

US Court Finds NSO Liable For Hacking Of WhatsApp Using Pegasus Malware

Live Law  

In a summary judgment, Judge Phyllis Hamilton of the US District Court in Oakland, Northern District of California has found Israeli-mercenary's surveillance firm NSO Group Technologies liable for the hacking of Meta's Whatsapp through its state-of-the-art military-grade malware Pegasus. The Court has found that NSO violated the Computer Fraud & Abuse Act, and Comprehensive Computer Data Access & Fraud Act …

CCI slaps fine on Meta over WhatsApp policy
1 month ago

CCI slaps fine on Meta over WhatsApp policy

Hindustan Times  

In a significant blow to WhatsApp and its parent entity Meta, the Competition Commission of India on Monday imposed a penalty of ₹213.14 crore on Meta for abusing its dominant position through the 2021 update to WhatsApp’s privacy policy and thus violating the Competition Act. The CCI has also forbidden WhatsApp from making user data sharing with Meta companies a …

CCI imposes ₹213 crore penalty on Meta over 2021 WhatsApp private policy update
1 month ago

CCI imposes ₹213 crore penalty on Meta over 2021 WhatsApp private policy update

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India’s competition watchdog on Monday imposed a ₹213-crore penalty on Meta for abusing its dominant position as the 2021 privacy policy update of its messaging app WhatsApp undermined users’ ability to opt out of getting their data shared with the group’s social media platform Facebook. For purposes other than advertising, WhatsApp’s policy should include a detailed explanation of …

Bombay HC Directs Meta, Other Platforms To Remove 'Deepfake' Videos Of NSE's CEO Urging Investors To Join Whatsapp Group For Stock Tips
5 months ago

Bombay HC Directs Meta, Other Platforms To Remove 'Deepfake' Videos Of NSE's CEO Urging Investors To Join Whatsapp Group For Stock Tips

Live Law  

The Bombay High Court ordered social media platforms, including Meta and WhatsApp, to remove Artificial Intelligence generated videos of the MD and CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India that showed him urging the common investors to join a WhatsApp group for stock picking tips. Justice R.I. Chagla was considering the interim application filed by NSE for directing the …

Pegasus spyware | U.S. Supreme Court lets WhatsApp pursue suit
1 year, 11 months ago

Pegasus spyware | U.S. Supreme Court lets WhatsApp pursue suit

The Hindu  

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let Meta Platforms Inc.'s WhatsApp pursue a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a bug in its WhatsApp messaging app to install spy software allowing the surveillance of 1,400 people, including journalists, human rights activists, and dissidents. NSO appealed a trial judge's 2020 refusal to award it "conduct-based immunity," a common law doctrine …

US Supreme Court allows Meta, WhatsApp to sue NSO for installing Pegasus spyware on devices
1 year, 11 months ago

US Supreme Court allows Meta, WhatsApp to sue NSO for installing Pegasus spyware on devices

Firstpost  

The Supreme Court of the United States has decided to allow Meta and WhatsApp to pursue a lawsuit against Israel’s NSO Group for exploiting a bug in WhatsApp and installing spyware on the devices of over 1400 people across the world. NSO’s seeking immunity Ever since Meta announced that they will be going after NSO to the extent that the …

WhatsApp’s Pegasus spyware lawsuit can go ahead: US top court
1 year, 11 months ago

WhatsApp’s Pegasus spyware lawsuit can go ahead: US top court

Al Jazeera  

Israeli firm NSO Group’s spyware has been linked to state surveillance of human rights activists and dissidents. The United States Supreme Court has allowed the WhatsApp messaging platform to pursue a lawsuit against Israel’s NSO Group, which makes the Pegasus spyware linked to state surveillance of journalists, human rights advocates and dissidents around the world. “NSO’s spyware has enabled cyberattacks …

Australia demands Apple, Meta, Microsoft share anti-abuse steps, threatens fines
2 years, 3 months ago

Australia demands Apple, Meta, Microsoft share anti-abuse steps, threatens fines

The Hindu  

An Australian regulator sent legal letters to Facebook owner Meta Platforms, Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. demanding they share their strategies for stamping out child abuse material on their platforms or face fines. The internet firms have meanwhile been under pressure around the world to find a way to monitor encrypted messaging and streaming services for child abuse material without …

WhatsApp privacy policy places users in ‘take it or leave it’ situation, forces into agreement: High Court
2 years, 3 months ago

WhatsApp privacy policy places users in ‘take it or leave it’ situation, forces into agreement: High Court

The Hindu  

The Delhi High Court has held that WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy places its users in a “take it or leave it” situation, virtually forcing them into an agreement by providing a mirage of choices and then sharing their data with its parent company Facebook. The High Court’s verdict came while dismissing appeals of WhatsApp and Facebook against an order rejecting …

WhatsApp has not abused dominant position in India, rules NCLAT
2 years, 4 months ago

WhatsApp has not abused dominant position in India, rules NCLAT

The Hindu  

The NCLAT has set aside a petition and upheld a 2017 CCI order that dismissed a complaint of predatory pricing against instant messaging platform WhatsApp. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal said no doubt WhatsApp has a 'dominant position' but it has not 'abused its dominant position' based on inputs provided by the appellant, an NGO Fight for Transparency Society. …

Top US court seeks Biden input on lawsuit against Israel’s NSO
2 years, 6 months ago

Top US court seeks Biden input on lawsuit against Israel’s NSO

Al Jazeera  

Supreme Court asks Justice Department to say whether spyware firm is immune from WhatsApp lawsuit over alleged hacking. Last November, a US Court of Appeals dismissed NSO Group’s push to assert legal immunity, but on Monday the top US court asked the US Department of Justice to “file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States”. …

NSO turns to US Supreme Court for immunity in WhatsApp suit
2 years, 8 months ago

NSO turns to US Supreme Court for immunity in WhatsApp suit

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — The Israeli spyware maker NSO Group is turning to the U.S. Supreme Court as it seeks to head off a high-profile lawsuit filed by the WhatsApp messaging service. In a filing to the Supreme Court, NSO said it should be recognized as a foreign government agent and therefore be entitled to immunity under U.S. law limiting lawsuits against …

Pegasus: What you need to know about Israeli spyware
2 years, 10 months ago

Pegasus: What you need to know about Israeli spyware

Al Jazeera  

The Israeli company has been linked to governments exploiting its technology to spy on journalists, activists and politicians. Pegasus, spyware made by the Israeli technology company NSO Group, is making headlines again after it was reported that the Israeli police used it for spying on dozens of its own citizens – including senior government officials and protesters rallying up against …

UAE agency placed spyware on Khashoggi fiancee’s phone: Report
3 years ago

UAE agency placed spyware on Khashoggi fiancee’s phone: Report

Al Jazeera  

An Emirati government agency placed spyware developed by Israeli firm NSO Group on the phone of someone in Jamal Khashoggi’s inner circle, just months before the Saudi journalist was killed, The Washington Post has reported. The Post’s findings are the latest example of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware being used by governments around the world to hack the phones of prominent …

Spyware find highlights depth of hacker-for-hire industry
3 years ago

Spyware find highlights depth of hacker-for-hire industry

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Security researchers said Thursday they found two kinds of commercial spyware on the phone of a leading exiled Egyptian dissident, providing new evidence of the depth and diversity of the abusive hacker-for-hire industry. The researchers said they traced the Cytrox hack to Egypt but didn’t know who was behind the NSO Group infection. The researchers said in a …

US Lawmakers Call for Sanctions Against Israel's NSO Group, Other Spyware Firms
3 years ago

US Lawmakers Call for Sanctions Against Israel's NSO Group, Other Spyware Firms

News 18  

A group of U.S. lawmakers is asking the Treasury Department and State Department to sanction Israeli spyware firm NSO Group and three other foreign surveillance companies they say helped authoritarian governments commit human rights abuses. Their letter sent late Tuesday and seen by Reuters also asks for sanctions on top executives at NSO, the United Arab Emirates cybersecurity company DarkMatter, …

Phones of US State Department Staffers Hacked Using Israeli Firm NSO Group
3 years ago

Phones of US State Department Staffers Hacked Using Israeli Firm NSO Group

News 18  

Apple Inc iPhones of at least nine U.S. State Department employees were hacked by an unknown assailant using sophisticated spyware developed by the Israel-based NSO Group, according to four people familiar with the matter. NSO Group and another spyware firm were "added to the Entity List based on a determination that they developed and supplied spyware to foreign governments that …

Apple suing Israeli hacker-for-hire company NSO Group
3 years ago

Apple suing Israeli hacker-for-hire company NSO Group

Associated Press  

RICHMOND, Va. — Tech giant Apple announced Tuesday it is suing Israel’s NSO Group, seeking to block the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire company from breaking into Apple’s products, like the iPhone. Apple said in a complaint filed in federal court in California that NSO Group employees are “amoral 21st century mercenaries who have created highly sophisticated cyber-surveillance machinery that invites …

Apple files lawsuit against Israel’s NSO Group
3 years ago

Apple files lawsuit against Israel’s NSO Group

The Hindu  

Apple Inc said on Tuesday it has filed a lawsuit against Israeli cyber firm NSO Group and its parent company OSY Technologies for alleged surveillance and targeting of U.S. Apple users with its Pegasus spyware. NSO has also faced either legal action or criticism from Microsoft Corp, Meta Platforms Inc, Alphabet Inc and Cisco Systems Inc. NSO is allegedly involved …

Apple sues Israeli firm NSO Group over spyware
3 years, 1 month ago

Apple sues Israeli firm NSO Group over spyware

Al Jazeera  

Apple lawsuit accuses NSO Group of using its Pegasus spyware to hack devices and enable human rights abuses. Apple Inc has filed a lawsuit in the United States against Israeli firm NSO Group, accusing the company of using its Pegasus spyware to hack the devices of Apple users. In a legal complaint filed in US federal court on Tuesday, Apple …

Report: NSO spyware found on 6 Palestinian activists’ phones
3 years, 1 month ago

Report: NSO spyware found on 6 Palestinian activists’ phones

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — Security researchers disclosed Monday that spyware from the notorious Israeli hacker-for-hire company NSO Group was detected on the cellphones of six Palestinian human rights activists, half affiliated with groups that Israel’s defense minister controversially claimed were involved in terrorism. Asked about the allegations its software was used against the Palestinian activists, NSO Group said in a statement that …

6 Palestinian rights activists hacked by NSO spyware: Report
3 years, 1 month ago

6 Palestinian rights activists hacked by NSO spyware: Report

Hindustan Times  

Security researchers disclosed Monday that spyware from the notorious Israeli hacker-for-hire company NSO Group was detected on the cellphones of six Palestinian human rights activists, half affiliated with groups that Israel’s defense minister controversially claimed were involved in terrorism. The forensic findings, independently confirmed by security researchers from Amnesty International and the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab in a joint …

US Govt Puts New Controls on Israeli Spyware Company NSO Group
3 years, 1 month ago

US Govt Puts New Controls on Israeli Spyware Company NSO Group

News 18  

The Biden administration announced Wednesday it is putting new export limits on Israel’s NSO Group, the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire company, saying its tools have been used to “conduct transnational repression.” The company, whose spyware researchers say has been used around the world to break into the phones of human rights activists, journalists, and even members of the Catholic clergy, …

US Blacklists Israel's NSO Group Over Pegasus Spyware
3 years, 1 month ago

US Blacklists Israel's NSO Group Over Pegasus Spyware

News 18  

The Biden administration announced Wednesday it is putting new export limits on Israel’s NSO Group, the worlds most infamous hacker-for-hire company, saying its tools have been used to conduct transnational repression. The U.S. Commerce Department said NSO Group and three other firms are being added to the entity list, which limits their access to U.S. components and technology by requiring …

US puts new controls on Israeli spyware company NSO Group
3 years, 1 month ago

US puts new controls on Israeli spyware company NSO Group

Associated Press  

RICHMOND, Va. — The Biden administration announced Wednesday it is putting new export limits on Israel’s NSO Group, the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire company, saying its tools have been used to “conduct transnational repression.” The company, whose spyware researchers say has been used around the world to break into the phones of human rights activists, journalists, and even members of …

Report finds NSO Group’s spyware used on Bahraini activists
3 years, 3 months ago

Report finds NSO Group’s spyware used on Bahraini activists

Associated Press  

RICHMOND, Va. — Nine activists from Bahrain had their iPhones hacked by advanced spyware made by the Israeli company NSO Group, the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire firm, a cybersecurity watchdog reported on Tuesday. Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto said NSO Group’s Pegasus malware successfully hacked the phones between June 2020 and February 2021. Citizen Lab said it has …

Nothing To Do With Pegasus : WhatsApp Tells Supreme Court
3 years, 4 months ago

Nothing To Do With Pegasus : WhatsApp Tells Supreme Court

Live Law  

WhatsApp's counsel told the Supreme Court on Monday that it has got nothing to do with Pegasus.This happened before a bench led by the Chief Justice of India which is hearing a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team or a judicial probe into the reports of snooping of activists, journalists, politicians and constitutional authorities …

Govts need to take steps to hold NSO Group accountable: WhatsApp CEO
3 years, 5 months ago

Govts need to take steps to hold NSO Group accountable: WhatsApp CEO

The Hindu  

Following revelations that NSO Group’s ‘Pegasus’ software may have been used to snoop on journalists, politicians and activists worldwide, including holders of 300 Indian phone numbers, WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart has called on governments and companies to take steps to hold the Israeli technology firm accountable. Mr. Cathcart added that there is a need for more companies, and, critically, governments, …

Pegasus and NSO Group software used to commit horrible human rights abuses, says WhatsApp CEO
3 years, 5 months ago

Pegasus and NSO Group software used to commit horrible human rights abuses, says WhatsApp CEO

India Today  

The news about NSO's hacking spyware, Pegasus, has again kicked off the debate around tracking individuals, including journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists in various countries. Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp, has come down heavily on the news and said that the "NSO's dangerous spyware is used to commit horrible human rights abuses all around the world, and it must …

Centre responds to WhatsApp lawsuit: 'Respect right to privacy, new rules won't affect functioning'
3 years, 6 months ago

Centre responds to WhatsApp lawsuit: 'Respect right to privacy, new rules won't affect functioning'

Firstpost  

The Centre on Wednesday issued a clarification on WhatsApp’s lawsuit against the new IT rules saying that it respects the right to privacy and none of the new measures proposed by India will impact the normal functioning of WhatsApp in any manner. This comes after WhatsApp moved the Delhi HC to challenge rule mandating it to identify the first originator …

WhatsApp Sues Indian Govt Over IT Rules 2021, Says 'Chat Traceability Will End User Privacy'
3 years, 6 months ago

WhatsApp Sues Indian Govt Over IT Rules 2021, Says 'Chat Traceability Will End User Privacy'

ABP News  

New Delhi: Amid heated controversy over the WhatsApp Privacy police and IT Intermediary Rules 2021, the Facebook-owned messaging app has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in the Delhi High Court. WhatsApp has challenged the Information Technology Rules, 2021 saying that user privacy is in its DNA and requiring messaging apps to "trace" chats undermines people's right to privacy. …

WhatsApp sues Indian gov’t on privacy concerns: Report
3 years, 6 months ago

WhatsApp sues Indian gov’t on privacy concerns: Report

Al Jazeera  

The case asks the Delhi High Court to declare one of the new rules is a violation of privacy rights, Reuters reported. WhatsApp has filed a lawsuit in Delhi against the Indian government seeking to block regulations coming into force on Wednesday that experts say would compel the California-based Facebook unit to break privacy protections, sources said. The case, described …

WhatsApp sues Indian government in an attempt to block new social media rules
3 years, 6 months ago

WhatsApp sues Indian government in an attempt to block new social media rules

CNN  

New Delhi CNN Business — WhatsApp has sued the Indian government in a bid to block new rules it says would lead to “mass surveillance” by forcing social media platforms to hand over private information about their users. “Requiring messaging apps to ‘trace’ chats is the equivalent of asking us to keep a fingerprint of every single message sent on …

Fake WhatsApp iOS app linked to an Italian surveillance company was being used to target specific users: Report
3 years, 10 months ago

Fake WhatsApp iOS app linked to an Italian surveillance company was being used to target specific users: Report

Firstpost  

The report also added that the hackers did not mean to spread it around, instead, it was targeted at specific users only. A Italian surveillance company has reportedly made a fake WhatsApp application for iOS, which is being used to target users and gather sensitive data.According to a report by researchers from digital rights watchdog Citizen Lab, some iPhone users …

Supreme Court Seeks WhatsApp, Facebook, Google Pay, Amazon Pay Response On Plea Seeking Data Protection On UPI Platforms
3 years, 10 months ago

Supreme Court Seeks WhatsApp, Facebook, Google Pay, Amazon Pay Response On Plea Seeking Data Protection On UPI Platforms

Live Law  

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of WhatsApp India, Facebook, Google Pay, Amazon Pay and the Union Government on a plea seeking directions to ensure that data collected by Unified Payment Interface platforms is not shared with parent company or any other third party under any circumstances.A bench headed by the Chief Justice of India issued the direction …

Petitioner Cites Pegasus Issue In Supreme Court To Argue Against Allowing WhatsApp Payment Services
4 years ago

Petitioner Cites Pegasus Issue In Supreme Court To Argue Against Allowing WhatsApp Payment Services

Live Law  

The controversy regarding snooping of WhatsApp users using Israeli spy software 'Pegasus' found a mention in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.The 'Pegasus-Whatsapp' issue was referred to by Senior Advocate Krishnan Venugopal to argue that the system of WhatsApp was not secure and reliable so as to allow it to launch payment services.Venugopal was appearing for Binoy Viswam, Rajya Sabha MP. …

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