In a significant ruling, a federal judge has issued a permanent injunction against NSO Group, a spyware manufacturer, preventing it from targeting users of WhatsApp, owned by Meta. This decision follows a jury's earlier ruling that imposed a hefty fine of over $167 million on NSO Group for its involvement in a 2019 campaign that affected more than 1,400 WhatsApp users, including journalists and human rights activists. However, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton reduced the fine to around $4 million, citing a lack of evidence to classify NSO's actions as particularly egregious. WhatsApp's Head, Will Cathart, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing its importance for protecting civil society members from surveillance. The ruling comes after six years of legal battles and highlights ongoing concerns about user privacy and the accountability of tech companies.