Tech news — a federal judge has granted Meta-owned WhatsApp’s request for a permanent injunction blocking Israeli cyberintelligence company NSO Group from targeting the messaging app’s users. After six years of litigation, the spyware maker is officially banned from WhatsApp. But in the same ruling, the judge dramatically reduced the fine NSO Group must pay Meta — from more than $167 million to around $4 million.
By Maplestime Tech Desk | Canada | September 19, 2026
Sources: TechCrunch, Courthouse News Service | Last updated: September 19, 2026
Key Takeaways
- A US federal judge granted WhatsApp a permanent injunction blocking NSO Group from targeting the app’s users
- The judge slashed NSO’s fine from $167M+ to around $4M, ruling there wasn’t enough evidence the behavior was “particularly egregious”
- The case stems from a 2019 campaign that targeted more than 1,400 WhatsApp users, including human rights activists and journalists
- WhatsApp head Will Cathcart: the ruling “bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users again”
- NSO Group recently confirmed it’s being acquired by US investors
The Ban: NSO Is Out of WhatsApp for Good
U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton granted WhatsApp’s request for a permanent injunction against NSO Group. In a statement provided to Courthouse News Service, Head of WhatsApp Will Cathcart said the ruling “bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users again.”
“We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society,” Cathcart said.
The case traces back to a 2019 campaign in which NSO Group targeted more than 1,400 WhatsApp users — including human rights activists and journalists — with its Pegasus-style spyware. Earlier this year, a jury decided the company would have to pay Meta more than $167 million.
The Catch: $167 Million Becomes $4 Million
Here’s where the victory gets complicated. Judge Hamilton ruled Friday that because the court did not have enough evidence to determine that NSO Group’s behavior was “particularly egregious,” the punitive damages ratio was capped at 9 to 1 — reducing the payment to around $4 million.
A permanent ban with a 97% discount on the penalty. For a company in the business of selling spyware to governments, that’s not exactly ruinous.
What Happens Next
NSO Group recently confirmed that it’s being acquired by US investors — a change of ownership that could reshape the company’s future, its client list, and how it’s treated by American courts and regulators.
The injunction stands regardless of who owns the company. Whether the reduced fine deters anyone in the spyware industry is another question entirely.
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Maplestime will provide updates from the spyware and digital privacy battles as rulings come down.
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Is a permanent ban with a slashed fine real accountability — or just the cost of doing business for the spyware industry? Tell us in the comments. And share this with everyone who assumes their messages are private.
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