He said that since discovering the malware
operation in May, Facebook learned that the
attackers were using servers and internet-hosting
services previously associated with NSO Group,
which has been widely condemned for selling
surveillance tools to repressive governments.
NSO Group issued a statement in which it did
not directly deny hacking WhatsApp but which
said it disputed the allegations and vowed to
“vigorously fight them.”
“The sole purpose of NSO is to provide
technology to licensed government intelligence
and law enforcement agencies to help them
fight terrorism and serious crime,” the company
said. “Our technology is not designed or licensed
for use against human rights activists and
journalists. It has helped to save thousands of
lives over recent years.”
It said strongly encrypted platforms are used
by pedophile rings, drug traffickers and
terrorists and that NSO’s technologies “provide
proportionate, lawful solutions.”
Facebook demands in the suit that NSO Group
be denied access to Facebook’s services and
systems and seeks unspecified damages.
Cathart said leaders of tech firms “should join
U.N. (free speech) Special Rapporteur David
Kaye’s call for an immediate moratorium on the
sale, transfer and use of dangerous spyware.”
“This is huge. I am really glad to see a tech
company put their massive litigation team
on the field on behalf of users,” tweeted Alex
Stamos, a Stanford University researcher and
former Facebook chief security officer.