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Illustrative: Israelis cast their votes at a voting station in Safed, during the Knesset election, on November 1, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)
October 18, 2026, 10:25 am
Ex-Likud official warns party app could be used to illegally monitor polling stations
In a sworn affidavit to the High Court, a former campaign tech chief claims the ruling party’s new app can bypass the law and secretly transmit voter data in real time using AI
By Avner Hofstein
Jonatan Urich arrives for a court hearing at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court, January 14, 2026. (Jonathan Shaul/ Flash90)
October 12, 2026, 11:36 pm
PM’s aide Urich used ChatGPT to create pro-Qatar messaging campaign — report
Channel 12 says police documents show key adviser and suspect in Qatargate affair asked AI chatbot to help create global image campaign for Gulf state in 2024
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
Jonatan Urich is seen at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on March 30, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 11, 2026, 9:32 pm
Purported WhatsApp correspondence of Netanyahu’s key aide Jonatan Urich leaks online
Leak comes in wake of report top adviser used AI to build a media-tracking tool and left a security breach in the code he put online
By ToI Staff
A police van waits outside the Iranian Embassy, flying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, central London, January 12, 2026. (HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
September 15, 2026, 7:50 pm
US, UK and Netherlands issue joint advisory on Iran-linked spyware
Islamic Republic uses so-called ‘CHOSEN BRICK’ family of hacking software to ‘collect intelligence, conduct data leaks, and inflict reputational harm’ against targets, FBI warns
By Reuters
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives for a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children, February 18, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
March 25, 2026, 10:20 am
Meta ordered to pay $375 million in US trial over child exploitation, user safety
Parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp facing wave of lawsuits over how its social media platforms affect young people’s mental health; plans to appeal
By Diana Novak Jones
A man holds his phone with NSO GROUP logo on a computer screen in the background, in Jerusalem, on February 7, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 18, 2025, 8:25 pm
US court orders Israeli spyware company NSO to cease targeting WhatsApp
WhatsApp applauds ruling, say it ‘comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society’; judge reduces damages NSO must pay by 97%
By Reuters
FILE - A WhatsApp icon is displayed on an iPhone, November 15, 2018, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
June 18, 2025, 6:53 am
Iran state TV urges public to delete WhatsApp, claiming app gathered info for Israel
Messaging service denies tracking user data, fears ‘these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most’
By Kelvin Chan and Barbara Ortutay
The NSO Group company logo is displayed on a wall of a building next to a branch in southern Israel on February 8, 2022. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
May 7, 2025, 11:02 am
Israel’s NSO ordered to pay Meta $168 million for using WhatsApp to plant spyware
Six-year lawsuit ends with defeat for Israeli firm; reveals multimillion dollar price tag paid by European, American agencies that used software to hack suspects’ devices
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Italian Cabinet Minister Luca Ciriani, left back, speaks during Question Time in the Chamber of Deputies, in Rome, February 12, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
February 13, 2025, 2:45 pm
Italy denies spying on journalists, migrant activists using Israeli spyware
Rome says it will cooperate with probe into ‘vulnerabilities’ after at least 7 Italian cellphones apparently hacked with military-grade cyber surveillance tech Paragon
By Nicole Winfield and Paolo Santalucia
A WhatsApp icon is displayed on an iPhone. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
January 31, 2025, 7:00 pm
WhatsApp says Israeli spyware company Paragon targeted scores of users
Company official says it sent cease-and-desist letter following hack; Israeli firm declines to respond to allegation
By Reuters
A WhatsApp icon is displayed on an iPhone. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
December 24, 2024, 7:50 pm
Iran votes to lift ban on WhatsApp, Google Play
Facebook, X, YouTube, Telegram remain blocked as 136 lawmakers pen letter warning lifting ban on WhatsApp would be a ‘gift to Iran’s enemies’
By Payam DOOST MOHAMADI
A photographic illustration shows a mobile phone near the NSO Group company logo in the Israeli city of Netanya on February 9, 2022. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)
December 21, 2024, 6:57 pm
US judge finds Israeli spyware firm NSO liable for hacking in WhatsApp lawsuit
‘We’re proud to have stood up against NSO,’ says WhatsApp head; expert says ruling ‘makes it clear that NSO Group is in fact responsible for breaking numerous laws’
By Reuters
A sign for The New York Times hangs above the entrance to its building, on May 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
August 18, 2024, 8:32 pm
NYT reporter linked to leak of Australian Jews’ details, which led to doxxing attacks
Natasha Frost admits she shared private chats from post-Oct 7 WhatsApp group with 1 person, says she didn’t intend what followed; 600 members used chat to talk surging antisemitism
By ToI Staff
A man holds his phone with NSO GROUP logo on a computer screen in the background, in Jerusalem, on February 7, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 27, 2024, 7:36 am
Report: Israel seized files from NSO in apparent bid to prevent US court subpoena
Seizure said to have been coordinated with company’s lawyers to head off ‘serious diplomatic and security damage’ from disclosures about its Pegasus spyware in WhatsApp lawsuit
By ToI Staff
Family and friends attend the funeral of three members of the Sharabi family, Lian, Noya and Yahel, who were murdered by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7, 2023, in Moshav Kfar HaRif, southern Israel, October 25, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
December 5, 2023, 4:13 pm
Be’eri survivor seeks to retell Hamas attack via Oct. 7 WhatsApp messages
Former kibbutz leader Yaniv Hegyi launches ‘Memorial 710,’ collating messages, images and videos sent on the day of the onslaught to create second-by-second archive of massacre
By AFP and ToI Staff
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