A U.S. District Court has ruled against NSO Group in a landmark case brought by WhatsApp over the alleged use of Pegasus spyware to target WhatsApp users. The court found that NSO violated both federal and California state hacking statutes, as well as WhatsApp’s Terms of Service. The ruling follows years of controversy surrounding NSO Group’s Pegasus software, which has been criticized by digital rights organizations for enabling state-sponsored surveillance.
The case will now proceed to trial specifically to determine damages that NSO should pay to WhatsApp, with proceedings expected in March 2025 at the District Court in Oakland. The development follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to decline hearing NSO’s appeal, effectively sending the case back to the District Court. The Solicitor General supported recommendations from a coalition representing victims’ interests. The case has significant implications for the regulation of commercial spyware and state-sponsored surveillance tools.
In separate developments, Nigeria has intensified its national digital ID enrollment campaign, working toward a goal of issuing 180 million digital IDs by December 2026 with World Bank support. The initiative builds upon previous World Bank funding of $45.5 million for the country’s Digital Identification for Development project. The program includes using digital IDs to facilitate cash transfers to poor citizens, with over 25 million Nigerians already participating. The National Identity Management Commission has established partnerships to register both inmates and farmers for digital IDs, expanding the program’s reach across diverse population segments.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia has modified its intercountry adoption procedures, with the Federal First Instance Court no longer requiring the Pre-Adoption Immigration Review process for adoptions by parents of Ethiopian origin. The change comes as the country continues to develop its digital identity infrastructure, including the recent expansion of the Fayda Digital ID program across the Tigray region. However, adoptive parents planning to reside in the United States must still obtain proper immigrant visas for their children, maintaining compliance with international adoption regulations.
Sources: Access Now, Biometric Update, Astral Codex Ten, Travel State Department
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