A judge of US district court in California has granted permission for WhatsApp lawsuit against Israeli spyware firm NSO to proceed.

In a ruling Judge Phyllis Hamilton said she allowed the case to procced as she had not been entirely persuaded by NSO Group’s argument that it had no role in the targeting of WhatsApp’s users.&nbsp;

According to Judge Hamilton it appears that NSO Group ''retained some role'' in the targeting of individuals, ''even if it was at the direction of their customers''.

The case will now proceed to discovery, in which both sides can request documents and records.

A WhatsApp spokesperson said ''The decision also confirms that WhatsApp will be able to obtain relevant documents and other information about NSO’s practices''.&nbsp;

Judge Hamilton also highlighted the underlying facts in the case, that someone sent malicious code and malware through WhatsApp's servers, did not appear to be disputed. I

nstead, the lawsuit revolved around whether NSO Group’s ''sovereign customers'' were to blame, or the company itself.

Earlier, an Israeli court on Monday rejected a bid by rights group Amnesty International to revoke the export license of spyware firm NSO Group over hacking allegations.&nbsp;

NSO has faced multiple accusations of cyber-espionage on human rights activists and others, including by the messaging service WhatsApp, which is suing the company in a US court. &nbsp;

Many of the allegations have centred on the company's Pegasus product, a highly invasive tool that can reportedly switch on a target's cellphone camera and microphone and access data on it, effectively turning the phone into a pocket spy.

Amnesty claimed the technology was used against one of its staffers and petitioned a Tel Aviv court to revoke its defence ministry issued export licence.&nbsp;

The rights group added that NSO's products are helping governments commit rights violations "from Saudi Arabia to Mexico".

NSO has been in the headlines since 2016 when researchers accused it of helping spy on an activist in the United Arab Emirates.

Founded in 2010 by Israelis Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie, NSO Group is based in the Israeli hi-tech hub of Herzliya, near Tel Aviv.&nbsp;

It says it employs 600 people in Israel and around the world.

A judge of US district court in California has granted permission for WhatsApp lawsuit against Israeli spyware firm NSO to proceed. In a ruling Judge Phyllis Hamilton said she allowed the case to procced as she had not been entirely persuaded by NSO Group’s argument that it had no role in the targeting of WhatsApp’s users.

A judge of US district court in California has granted permission for WhatsApp lawsuit against Israeli spyware firm NSO to proceed. In a ruling Judge Phyllis Hamilton said she allowed the case to procced as she had not been entirely persuaded by NSO Group’s argument that it had no role in the targeting of WhatsApp’s users. According to Judge Hamilton it appears that NSO Group ''retained some role'' in the targeting of individuals, ''even if it was at the direction of their customers''. The case will now proceed to discovery, in which both sides can request documents and records. A WhatsApp spokesperson said ''The decision also confirms that WhatsApp will be able to obtain relevant documents and other information about NSO’s practices''. Judge Hamilton also highlighted the underlying facts in the case, that someone sent malicious code and malware through WhatsApp's servers, did not appear to be disputed. I nstead, the lawsuit revolved around whether NSO Group’s ''sovereign customers'' were to blame, or the company itself. Earlier, an Israeli court on Monday rejected a bid by rights group Amnesty International to revoke the export license of spyware firm NSO Group over hacking allegations. NSO has faced multiple accusations of cyber-espionage on human rights activists and others, including by the messaging service WhatsApp, which is suing the company in a US court. Many of the allegations have centred on the company's Pegasus product, a highly invasive tool that can reportedly switch on a target's cellphone camera and microphone and access data on it, effectively turning the phone into a pocket spy. Amnesty claimed the technology was used against one of its staffers and petitioned a Tel Aviv court to revoke its defence ministry issued export licence. The rights group added that NSO's products are helping governments commit rights violations "from Saudi Arabia to Mexico". NSO has been in the headlines since 2016 when researchers accused it of helping spy on an activist in the United Arab Emirates. Founded in 2010 by Israelis Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie, NSO Group is based in the Israeli hi-tech hub of Herzliya, near Tel Aviv. It says it employs 600 people in Israel and around the world.

US judge grants permission for lawsuit against Israeli software firm NSO to proceed

WhatsApp has sued&nbsp;Israeli cyber surveillance company NSO Group, accusing it of hacking the phones of 1400 people including senior government officials, human rights activists and journalists.

In new court filings, the messaging company alleged that&nbsp;Israeli spyware company used US-based servers to hack&nbsp;more than a dozen Indian journalists and Rwandan dissidents and therefore, bears responsibility in serious human rights violations.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nso-snoop-row-how-pegasus-broke-into-whatsapp-260055">Explainer: NSO spygate row - How Pegasus broke into WhatsApp</a>

WhatsApp has said victims of the hack received phone calls using its messaging app, and were infected with Pegasus.&nbsp;

In the lawsuit,&nbsp;it&nbsp;revealed&nbsp;more technical details about how the hacking software, Pegasus, which is allegedly deployed against targets.

According to WhatsApp’s filing, NSO gained ''unauthorized access” to its servers by reverse-engineering the messaging app and then evading the company’s security features that prevent manipulation of the company’s call features.''

Watch: The WhatsApp hack — What is the Pegasus?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-whatsapp-hack-what-is-the-pegasus-259352/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

''It used a network of computers to monitor and update Pegasus after it was implanted on users’ devices. These NSO-controlled computers served as the nerve centre through which NSO controlled its customers’ operation and use of Pegasus.''

It is demanding a permanent injunction blocking NSO from attempting to access its computer systems and those of its parent company, Facebook.

NSO Group has been claiming that its spyware is purchased by government clients for the purpose of tracking down terrorists and other criminals and that it had no independent knowledge of how those clients, which in the past have reportedly included Saudi Arabia and Mexico, use its hacking software.

WhatsApp has sued Israeli cyber surveillance company NSO Group, accusing it of hacking the phones of 1400 people including senior government officials, human rights activists and journalists.

WhatsApp has sued Israeli cyber surveillance company NSO Group, accusing it of hacking the phones of 1400 people including senior government officials, human rights activists and journalists. In new court filings, the messaging company alleged that Israeli spyware company used US-based servers to hack more than a dozen Indian journalists and Rwandan dissidents and therefore, bears responsibility in serious human rights violations. Also read: Explainer: NSO spygate row - How Pegasus broke into WhatsApp WhatsApp has said victims of the hack received phone calls using its messaging app, and were infected with Pegasus. In the lawsuit, it revealed more technical details about how the hacking software, Pegasus, which is allegedly deployed against targets. According to WhatsApp’s filing, NSO gained ''unauthorized access” to its servers by reverse-engineering the messaging app and then evading the company’s security features that prevent manipulation of the company’s call features.'' Watch: The WhatsApp hack — What is the Pegasus? ''It used a network of computers to monitor and update Pegasus after it was implanted on users’ devices. These NSO-controlled computers served as the nerve centre through which NSO controlled its customers’ operation and use of Pegasus.'' It is demanding a permanent injunction blocking NSO from attempting to access its computer systems and those of its parent company, Facebook. NSO Group has been claiming that its spyware is purchased by government clients for the purpose of tracking down terrorists and other criminals and that it had no independent knowledge of how those clients, which in the past have reportedly included Saudi Arabia and Mexico, use its hacking software.

WhatsApp sues Israeli firm over 'deep involvement' in hacking phones

The recent WhatsApp hacking spree was carried out using a very powerful software called Pegasus, a product of the Israeli-based NSO group. Many journalists, activists and diplomats were caught off guard by the Spygate scandal.

All about NSO'S super weapon: Pegasus

nso-scandal

Nso Scandal, News on Nso Scandal, stories on Nso Scandal, articles on Nso Scandal, Nso Scandal stories at Wion, Nso Scandal news, Nso Scandal latest news

nso scandal

US judge grants permission for lawsuit against Israeli software firm NSO to proceed

WhatsApp sues Israeli firm over 'deep involvement' in hacking phones

All about NSO'S super weapon: Pegasus