Manufacturer Pegasus punished. He must pay $ 167 million

The Israeli company NSO Group, the creator of Pegasus software, was punished by the California court for enabling infiltration of 1.4 thousand. telephones – BBC portal on Wednesday. The owner will pay $ 167 million penalties and compensation to Meta.

Meta, the owner of the WhatsApp messenger, who filed with the court, stated that this is “the first victory over the development and use of illegal spy software”. The court granted compensation to the company in the amount of 444 thousand. dollars and imposed a fine of $ 167 million on the NSO Group.

Pegasus is a malicious software that can be installed remotely on mobile phones and access, among others for microphones and camera cameras. According to critics, NSO Group enabled authoritarian regimes to monitor journalists, activists and politicians.

NSO stated that “it would carefully analyze the details of the judgment and take appropriate legal steps, including the initiation of further proceedings and appearing.” The company claims that its solution is intended only to fight serious criminals and terrorists. However, in many countries, the accusations have been argued that Pegasus was used to attack anyone who found the authorities as a threat to national security.

In 2021, a list of 50,000 went to the media. telephone numbers whose owners could be overheard using Pegasus. It had phones of politicians and heads of states, directors of companies, activists and several members of the Arab Royal Family, as well as over 180 journalists. The relatives of Jamal Khashodiji, a critic of the Saudi Arabian government, murdered at the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul in 2018, could also fall victims of the wiretards. In Poland, Pegasus was to be infected, among others Roman Giertych, prosecutor Ewa Wrzosek, Krzysztof Brejzy and Jacek Karnowski. The legality of activities undertaken in Poland using this software by the government, special services and the police from November 2015 to November 2023. The Sejm Remand Committee is being investigated. The Commission is also to determine who was responsible for the purchase of Pegasus and similar tools for Polish authorities.

The California court considered Pegasus for six years. “The decision of the sworn bench to force NSO to pay compensation is a key agent of this malicious industry from its illegal actions aimed at American companies,” the Court's decision commented.

“We are deeply convinced that our technology plays a key role in preventing serious crimes and terrorism and that it is implemented in a responsible manner by authorized government agencies,” NSO said in a statement.

WhatsApp winning can make it easier for other technological giants whose platforms have fallen victim to the spy software, taking steps against NSO – the portal assessed. (PAP)

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