WhatsApp has been granted access to explore the full functionality of the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware after a long legal battle. The sophisticated malware that was previously a highly guarded state secret has been at the center of controversy, with allegations that it was used to spy on 1,400 WhatsApp users. WhatsApp’s lawsuit against the NSO was unprecedented, taking aim at the unregulated industry that sells sophisticated malware services to governments worldwide. The court ruled in favor of WhatsApp, requiring the NSO to hand over information about Pegasus’ full functionality. However, the NSO will not be compelled to identify its clients, some of whom have allegedly used the spyware for repressive purposes. The trial is set to begin in 2025.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/03/whatsapp-finally-forces-pegasus-spyware-maker-to-share-its-secret-code/