Spyware maker NSO Group has been found liable in a US federal court, after its Pegasus spyware was used to hack journalists and activists.
US federal judge Phyllis Hamilton in California ruled that NSO Group illegally hacked into WhatsApp's systems and violated the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
WhatsApp is entitled to sanctions for NSO's refusal to turn over source code during the trial.
The ruling has significant implications for the spyware industry and holds NSO Group accountable for breaking the law.