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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 10 January 2023

Justices turn away Israeli spyware maker in WhatsApp suit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The detected on their iPhones.
Supreme Court on Monday “NSO’s spyware has en-
rejected an Israeli spyware abled cyberattacks target-
maker’s bid to derail a ing human rights activists,
high-profile lawsuit filed by journalists, and govern-
the WhatsApp messaging ment officials. We firmly be-
service. lieve that their operations
The justices left in place violate U.S. law and they
lower court rulings against must be held to account
the Israeli firm, NSO Group. for their unlawful opera-
WhatsApp claims that NSO tions,” WhatsApp spokes-
targeted some 1,400 users person Carl Woog said in a
of the encrypted messag- statement.
ing service with highly so- A lawyer for the journalists
phisticated spyware. who sued also praised the
WhatsApp parent Face- court’s action. “Today’s
book, now called Meta decision clears the path
Platforms Inc., is trying to for lawsuits brought by the
block NSO from Facebook tech companies, as well as
platforms and servers and for suits brought by journal-
recover unspecified dam- ists and human rights advo-
ages. cates who have been vic-
NSO argued that it should tims of spyware attacks,”
be recognized as a for- An American flag waves in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, June 27, 2022. Carrie DeCell, senior staff
eign government agent Associated Press attorney at the Knight First
and therefore be entitled Amendment Institute at
to immunity under U.S. law to covertly infiltrate a tar- ists, rights activists and civil case is among a series of Columbia University, said in
limiting lawsuits against for- get’s mobile phone, gain- society members. Critics legal battles plaguing NSO. a statement.
eign countries. The request ing access to messages have said that NSO’s cli- In a separate lawsuit, Ap- In its own statement, NSO
appeals a pair of earlier and contacts, the camera ents include Saudi Ara- ple says it aims to prevent said: “We are confident
federal court rulings that re- and microphone and lo- bia, the United Arab Emir- NSO from breaking into that the court will deter-
jected similar arguments by cation history. Only gov- ates, Jordan and Poland products. It claimed Pega- mine that the use of Pega-
the Israeli company. ernment law enforcement and that those countries sus had affected a small sus by its customers was le-
The Biden administration agencies can purchase have abused the system to number of iPhone users gal.”
recommended that the the product and all sales snoop on critics and stifle worldwide, calling NSO’s NSO also has been black-
court turn away the ap- are approved by Israel’s dissent. employees “amoral 21st listed by the U.S. Com-
peal. The Justice Depart- Defense Ministry, NSO said. NSO said it has safeguards century mercenaries.” merce Department, limiting
ment wrote that “NSO It does not identify its cli- in place to prevent abus- In November, journalists its access to U.S. technol-
plainly is not entitled to im- ents. es, although the company from an investigative news ogy. U.S. officials said the
munity here.” WhatsApp says at least 100 also said it has no control outlet in El Salvador also company’s products were
NSO’s flagship product, of the users connected over how its clients use the sued NSO in a U.S. court complicit in “transnational
Pegasus, allows operators to its lawsuit were journal- product. The WhatsApp after Pegasus spyware was repression.”q

Migrant repatriations continue as Florida steps up patrols

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — The end following interdictions Haiti have made their way said in a statement Friday shore, our number one pri-
U.S. Coast Guard repatriat- off the Florida Keys. by boat to the state since that the state will deploy ority as a state should be
ed 273 migrants to Matan- While more than 4,400 mi- August, more than 700 mi- airplanes, helicopter and to ensure that every person
zas, Cuba, over the week- grants from Cuba and grants arrived in the Flori- marine patrols to the area is safe, healthy, cared for,
da Keys over New Year’s “to support water interdic- and treated humanely,”
weekend, officials said. tions and ensure the safety Tiffani Lennon, the ACLU’s
Many arrived on makeshift, of migrants attempting to executive director, said.
motorized rafts used to reach Florida through the “Instead of politicizing the
make the dangerous 100- Florida Straits.” issue, elected officials must
mile (160-kilometer) journey There was no official word work with groups on the
from the communist island on the number of migrants ground and assist organiza-
across the dangerous Flori- landing in the Florida Keys tions that have stepped up
da Straits. over the weekend. to welcome and support
That led Republican Gov. In a statement sent Mon- migrants and people seek-
Ron DeSantis on Friday to day, the ACLU of Florida ing asylum,” Lennon said.
mobilize the Florida Na- condemned the gover- On Friday, DeSantis criti-
tional Guard. The National nor’s actions, saying the cized Democratic President
Guard did not immediately migrants are taking to the Joe Biden and the federal
respond to an email seek- sea to flee “extreme politi- government’s immigration
ing comment about the cal and economic distress policies and response to
Buses carrying Cuban migrants leave from U.S. Coast Guard
Sector Key West, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Key West, Fla. mobilization. in their home countries.” the migrants landing in the
Associated Press However, the governor “As migrants arrive at our Keys.q