DailyPost 3009
PEGASUS HACKED WHATSAPP USERS
It seems Pegasus was born to be in the news and that too globally. Certainly the recent past has been that way. When the dust settles in one part of the world, we get another from some other part of the world. The running threat in all these Breaking News is that each one is devastating, in some form or the other, to the company. They still do roaring business across the globe. Who does not want to spy, given a chance, more so the governments. Recent news tells it all, in a similar vein, as lots other earlier. The blaring headline is “Israel’s NSO Group Found Liable for Pegasus Hacking of WhatsApp Users.”
It pertains to a lawsuit between the two entities of having installed spy software allowing unauthorised surveillance. A US judge ruled on Friday in favour of Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel’s NSO group of exploiting a bug in the messaging app for this purpose. District Judge in Oakland, California, “granted a motion by WhatsApp and found NSO liable for hacking and breach of contract.” As expected the NSO group has not responded to this news, on an email request for comments. As the main issue in question being decided the case will now proceed for trial only on the issue of damages.
It has been a major victory for WhatsApp and hence its head has termed it as a win for privacy. The company spent five years pursuing this case, and this is for sure a landmark judgement. What was primarily legally contended was that spyware companies could not hide behind or avoid accountability for their lawful actions. The world is getting ripped apart by such companies in ways unknown to all of us. The message should loud and clear; “Surveillance companies should be on notice that illegal spying will not be tolerated.”
The NSO’s Pegasus spyware was first brought to light in 2016. The Canadian internet watchdog Citizen which had brought this to light, termed this judgement as a landmark ruling. It would have “huge implications for the spyware industry,’’ is what the watchdog claimed. As expected, cyber security experts have welcomed the judgement. This judgement makes it very clear that the NSO group is in fact responsible for breaking numerous laws. The case has earlier been argued on providing “conduct-based immunity” , a common law doctrine protecting foreign officials acting in their official capacity. This did not hold ground in the long drawn legal battle.
HOW MUCH CAN BE RECOUPED FROM THE LOST BATTLE FOR PRIVACY IS THE QUESTION.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.