The Meta-owned platform said on Monday that it had uncovered and stopped a series of spear-phishing attempts linked to NSO after receiving reports from users.

According to WhatsApp, the attackers tried to lure targets into clicking malicious links that directed them to websites outside the app.

“They tried to trick people into clicking on malicious links to drive them to external websites outside of WhatsApp,” the company wrote. “We also caught them creating test accounts and groups on WhatsApp, which we took down.”

WhatsApp said the operation shared similarities with another campaign uncovered in Jordan in 2024. In that case, victims who clicked malicious links were infected with Pegasus, NSO Group’s spyware.

Following its latest findings, Meta has asked a US federal court to hold NSO in contempt, arguing that the company breached a permanent injunction issued during a long-running case between both firms.

The court order stemmed from a 2019 hacking campaign in which more than 1,400 WhatsApp users were targeted through the platform. After discovering the breach, WhatsApp alerted affected users and filed a lawsuit against NSO.

A jury later ordered the spyware maker to pay $167 million in damages. That amount was subsequently reduced to $4 million.

The latest court filing is another chapter in an issue that has lasted several years and drawn attention to the high use of commercial spyware around the world.

NSO Group has been repeatedly cautioned over Pegasus, a surveillance tool capable of infiltrating mobile devices through so-called “zero-click” and “one-click” attacks. 

Investigations by journalists, security researchers and technology companies have linked the spyware to operations targeting journalists, activists, dissidents, human rights defenders and political opponents in several countries.

WhatsApp said it has continually exposed suspected spyware campaigns, notified victims and strengthened protections for users who may face a higher risk of digital surveillance.

Other technology companies, including Apple and Google, have also introduced additional security measures designed to help protect users from advanced spyware attacks.

Meta’s latest legal action has attracted support from civil society groups. A coalition of 12 civil rights organisations, privacy advocates and security researchers has filed court briefs backing the company’s position and urging the court to maintain pressure on NSO.

The spyware maker is also still under pressure from the US government. NSO is still listed on the US Commerce Department’s Entity List, a designation that restricts its access to American technology.

Washington has imposed similar measures on other spyware firms, including Intellexa and its founder.

In 2025, a group of US investors acquired NSO and began efforts to rebuild the company’s reputation while seeking the removal of US restrictions. However, the company remains on the Commerce Department blocklist.

The NSO Group did not respond to requests for comment on the latest allegations from WhatsApp.

The company revealed that over one million businesses already use early versions of the agent which was built inside Meta’s messaging platforms, where over a billion conversations happen daily between people and businesses.

The Business Agent, which works in local languages, responds to customer questions without delay and also makes product suggestions from a company’s catalogue. It can book appointments, qualify incoming leads and complete sales.

Businesses can set the tone, and the agent adjusts its language to match.

At the event in London, demonstrations showed how quickly the agent replies to customer messages, with one test illustrating a full product enquiry handled from start to checkout without human input.

Meta also built in a morning briefing feature that sends business owners a summary of missed messages and highlights from customer chats. It is aimed at teams that cannot stay online all day.

The company is also expanding access with new businesses being able to set up the agent in minutes. The entry option is free, but Meta plans to introduce paid tiers later for different business sizes.

Discovery is also changing, letting customers search for businesses directly on WhatsApp soon. They can also share contact cards in chats as well as trigger direct conversations with companies and Meta says this will make response times faster once customers reach out.

Behind the tool is a larger system called the Meta Business Agent Platform. It allows companies to build and customise their own agents and also connects with external services such as Shopify, Zendesk and Shopee. This gives the agent the ability to act on behalf of a business across different systems.

Larger companies get added features including guardrails, measurement tools and options to set policies around customer interactions. Meta says this is aimed at ensuring consistency and oversight at scale.

The company is expanding support across WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram. It says businesses will eventually be able to use the system for more than customer service. Future plans include market research, product insights, calendar management and competitive tracking.

Meta is also investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure, with spending expected to reach $145 billion. The Business Agent aims to turn messaging platforms into full business tools.

OpenAI, Anthropic and Google are all building similar AI systems for enterprise use. Meta’s focus is strongly on integrating these tools directly into its social and messaging apps, where businesses already operate.

The “Nigeria’s Digital Economy” report, conducted by independent research firm Public First, finds that under the right conditions this figure could grow to $2 billion as digital adoption deepens, with Meta’s platforms functioning as essential digital infrastructure connecting Nigerian entrepreneurs to customers, markets, and new economic opportunity.

The findings reveal that 14 million Nigerian SMEs used Meta’s apps, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Meta AI, and Threads, to start and grow their businesses in 2025, contributing $2 billion to Nigeria’s GDP and delivering an estimated $640 million in productivity gains through more efficient instant messaging.

WhatsApp is Nigeria’s gateway to AI

WhatsApp is playing a central role in connecting Nigerians to AI and new economic opportunities across the region.

The platform serves as Nigerians’ primary AI surface, reflecting the wider regional pattern where 93% of Meta AI prompts in Sub-Saharan Africa are made via WhatsApp, demonstrating how AI adoption in Nigeria is happening through the tools people already use every day.

Balkissa Ide Siddo, Director of Public Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa at Meta, said:

“Nigeria is one of the most dynamic, entrepreneurial and digitally engaged markets in the world, and this research makes clear the scale of what is possible when Nigerian ambition meets the right digital tools. From a tailor in Lagos reaching customers across the country through Instagram, to a small business owner in Kano taking orders on WhatsApp, to a creator in Abuja building a global audience on Facebook, Meta’s platforms are removing the traditional barriers to growth and unlocking real economic opportunity.

The fact that 80% of Nigerians say access to reliable internet has improved compared to a decade ago speaks to the progress already made and with continued investment in connectivity, smart policy that supports innovation, and the rise of open-source AI built for and by Africans, Nigeria is exceptionally well positioned to lead the continent’s next decade of digital growth. We are proud to be a long-term partner in that journey.”

AI and Nigeria’s next growth frontier

The research highlights the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for Nigeria’s economy and innovation ecosystem:

• AI could add $22 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by 2035 with the right combination of investment, policy and innovation.
• 87% of online Nigerians say AI products developed within Africa will be important for the continent’s economic growth.
• Open-source AI gives Nigerian developers, businesses and creators the opportunity to build solutions in local languages, for local needs.

SMEs are reaching new customers across Nigeria

For Nigerian small businesses, Meta’s platforms have become a primary sales and discovery channel. 81% of online businesses surveyed said Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp have expanded their customer base beyond their local geography, reducing customer acquisition costs and giving a business in Kano access to the same advertising and commerce tools available to businesses in Lagos, London or New York.

93% of online adults say they feel more connected to a wider community through Meta’s family of apps, reflecting how deeply these platforms are woven into everyday life, commerce and community in Nigeria.

Alison Neyle, director at Public First, said:

“Nigeria’s digital transformation is creating new opportunities for businesses, creators and consumers alike. The findings show that Meta’s platforms are helping Nigerian firms grow across formal and informal sectors, supporting entrepreneurship and strengthening participation in one of the world’s most rapidly expanding digital economies. With the right combination of infrastructure, platform access and open-source AI, the upside for Nigeria is significant.”

The update is now rolling out globally through the latest iOS version of the app. Once installed, the new interface appears automatically when an iPhone connects to a CarPlay-enabled vehicle.

Before now, WhatsApp worked on CarPlay through Siri. You could send or read messages using voice commands, but that was about it. There was no proper interface on the car screen. That has changed.

With this release, WhatsApp now runs as a native CarPlay app. It opens up a proper dashboard built for use while driving. The layout is simple, but it does more than before.

An interesting aspect of the update is a tabbed interface. It separates chats, calls, and favourite contacts into different sections. This makes it easier to move around without getting distracted.

The chats tab shows recent conversations, including those with unread messages. It does not display full message history, which helps keep the screen clean and limits how much a driver has to look at.

Next is the calls tab. Here, users can see incoming, outgoing, and missed calls listed in order, along with timestamps and contact images. You can tap any entry to return a call quickly.

There is also a favourites tab. It pulls in frequently contacted people from WhatsApp on the iPhone, giving quicker access without scrolling through long lists.

In addition, there are quick controls for sending messages through dictation or placing calls. These sit within easy reach on the interface, reducing the need for manual input while driving.

WhatsApp says calls and messages are still end-to-end encrypted, as with its main app. That part has not changed.

The update had been in testing shortly before release. It is now being launched globally, and users only need to update the app and connect their device to see it.

This is very different from the earlier experience. Instead of relying only on voice, drivers now get a full visual interface built for CarPlay. It is designed to keep things simple while still giving access to key features.

The rollout also comes alongside other recent additions to WhatsApp, including new reply suggestions and photo tools, as the company expands how the app is used across devices.

The company said the new accounts will limit pre-teens to basic messaging and calling features. They will not receive adverts and will not have access to several functions available on standard accounts.

WhatsApp rates its service for users aged 13 and above on app stores. However, many younger children already use the app to stay in touch with their parents and family members.

The company said the new system was created after hearing from parents who wanted a safer way for their children to communicate on the platform.

“We’ve heard from parents, who have bought mobile phones for their pre-teens, that they want to message them on WhatsApp. Parent-managed accounts are specifically designed to give additional control over settings and communications for this group,” the company said.

To set up the account, a parent or guardian must have both devices present, their own phone and the child’s phone. The accounts are linked by scanning a QR code during the setup process.

Once connected, the parent controls the account. They can decide who the child can communicate with and which groups the account may join.

Parents will also receive alerts about certain activities. By default, they are notified when the child adds, blocks or reports a contact.

Other alerts are optional and these include when the child changes their name or profile picture, receives a new chat request, joins or leaves a group, or deletes a conversation or contact.

All parental management is protected by a six-digit PIN, which the parent can create and manage from their own device.

WhatsApp said the parent-managed accounts will not support several features currently available on the platform. Pre-teen users will not be able to access Meta AI, Channels or Status updates. They also cannot enable disappearing messages in one-to-one chats.

Despite the restrictions, the company said all conversations will remain private.

“All personal conversations remain private and protected with end-to-end encryption, meaning no one, not even WhatsApp, can see or hear them.”

The app will also provide warnings when children receive messages from people outside their contacts. These notices show whether the sender shares any groups with the user and which country the contact is messaging from.

In addition, images sent by unknown contacts will appear blurred by default. Users can also silence calls from unfamiliar numbers.

Message requests from people outside the child’s contact list will appear in a separate folder. Parents must unlock that folder with their PIN before deciding whether to approve the request.

The same rule applies to group invitations. Before allowing a child to join, the app shows details such as the number of group members and the group administrator.

WhatsApp said children will be notified when they reach the age required for a standard account. Parents will also have the option to delay the switch by up to 12 months.

The company has begun rolling out the feature in selected countries and plans to expand it gradually.

The update adds to safety tools introduced by Meta across its platforms in recent years, particularly for younger users on services such as Instagram and Facebook.

Digitally mature customer segments are embracing AI and rich apps, while less connected segments still rely on low‑data channels like SMS and USSD.

BFSI and fintech players who orchestrate these channels into a single, seamless journey will outperform their peers.

Infobip’s 2025 Global Retail and BFSI Messaging Trends report shows WhatsApp interactions in South Africa grew by 11.6% over the previous year, reflecting strong customer appetite for richer, more interactive conversations.

By 2025, WhatsApp had solidified its position as South Africa’s primary messaging channel, with around 94% of the country’s internet users on the platform, according to the Digital 2025: South Africa report from DataReportal.

For banks, insurers, and fintech’s, this growth signals that customers are ready to move beyond one-way alerts. They now expect two-way dialogue, secure servicing, and convenient self-service on the channels they already use daily.

The opportunity is to design WhatsApp as a core part of an omnichannel journey that still includes trusted, low‑data channels like SMS and USSD for customers with limited connectivity.

“We’re seeing South African banks and fintechs shift from using WhatsApp for simple notifications to running entire service journeys on it,” says Dean Baker, head of Sales (Africa South Region) at Infobip.

“At the same time, SMS and USSD remain essential for customers with limited data or smartphone access, so the most advanced players are designing experiences that move smoothly between these channels. The leaders aren’t choosing between innovation and reach – they are orchestrating both so every customer can engage on the channel that works best for them.”

Across South Africa’s retail banking, insurance, and fintech sectors, AI is already powering WhatsApp and web chatbots for everyday queries, triaging service requests, and automating routine transactions. When combined with channels like SMS and USSD for authentication, reminders, and outreach, AI helps move customers smoothly between self‑service and human support.

The result is lower cost to serve, faster response times, and more consistent engagement – whether the customer is using a smartphone in a city or a feature phone in a rural area.

The BFSI sector is particularly well-positioned to drive this change. South Africa’s fintech market was valued at $7.08 billion in 2023 and is projected to nearly double to $14.86 billion by 2033, while accounting for around 40% of Africa’s fintech revenue and nearly 21% of the continent’s fintech startups.

As more products, payments, and credit journeys move into digital channels, competition is shifting from simply launching new services to delivering secure, seamless customer experiences across messaging. For South African BFSI leaders, this raises the bar: customers will judge fintech’s and incumbents alike on how easy it is to start, continue, and complete their journeys on the channels they already use every day.

Baker adds,

“The growth of South Africa’s fintech sector is raising the bar for digital engagement, as customers now expect secure, personalised, omnichannel experiences wherever they manage their money. Leading BFSI players are already using AI and trusted channels like WhatsApp, SMS, and USSD to design end‑to‑end journeys – from onboarding and authentication to servicing and retention – rather than isolated touchpoints.”

Baker concludes,

“The future of customer engagement in South Africa will belong to businesses that balance innovation with inclusivity. Those that move now to build true end‑to‑end omnichannel journeys, combining established and emerging technologies – will be best positioned to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.”

As South Africa’s messaging ecosystem matures, Infobip helps South African organisations integrate AI and omnichannel strategies, combining scale, security, and personalisation to deliver seamless customer experiences.

By helping businesses integrate new technologies such as AI, while maintaining trusted communication channels like WhatsApp, SMS and USSD, Infobip is enabling a digital future that combines scale, security, and personalisation.

Authorities are promoting domestic platforms and working to take sole control over the country’s internet.

This decision follows disagreements between Moscow and foreign tech companies since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

Officials are urging users to adopt a state-backed messaging app called MAX, but societal groups warn that MAX could be used to track citizens, though state media have called these claims false.

WhatsApp described this development as “Russia’s efforts to drive users to a state-owned surveillance app.” The company added, “We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “This is again a question of fulfilling the legislation. If the Meta corporation fulfils this and enters into dialogue with Russian authorities, then we have the possibility of reaching an agreement. 

“If the corporation (Meta) sticks to an uncompromising position and, I would say, shows itself unready to align with Russian legislation, then there is no chance.”

Earlier, Russian authorities removed WhatsApp from Roskomnadzor’s online directory, cutting off official access to the service. The app had roughly 100 million users in Russia before the block, making it one of the country’s most popular messaging platforms.

The block follows other recent restrictions. In December, Russia also restricted FaceTime and Telegram, and restricted Telegram again a few days ago. 

Authorities said these measures were necessary because foreign companies refused to share user information with law enforcement on fraud and terrorism cases. 

Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, has said the platform will continue to protect freedom of speech and user privacy.

Reports say Russia is pushing for digital sovereignty. The government wants to reduce reliance on foreign technology, while civil society groups warn that state-backed apps could threaten user privacy.

Regulators say the U.S. tech giant could be abusing its position in the messaging market.

On January 15, Meta allowed only its own AI assistant to operate on WhatsApp, blocking access to third-party AI rivals. 

The European Commission responded by issuing a statement of objections to Meta and said it is considering interim measures to prevent “serious and irreparable harm” to competitors while the investigation continues.

“We must protect effective competition in this vibrant field, which means we cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally leverage their dominance to give themselves an unfair advantage,” EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said. 

“That is why we are considering quickly imposing interim measures on Meta, to preserve access for competitors to WhatsApp while the investigation is ongoing and avoid Meta’s new policy irreparably harming competition in Europe.”

Meta defended its policy, arguing that the WhatsApp Business API is not a crucial channel for AI tools. “There are many AI options and people can use them from app stores, operating systems, devices, websites and industry partnerships,” a Meta spokesperson said. 

“The Commission’s logic incorrectly assumes the WhatsApp Business API (software) is a key distribution channel for these chatbots.”

Italy’s competition authority took a similar step last December, restricting Meta’s ability to block AI rivals. In contrast, a Brazilian court recently suspended an interim measure against Meta over the same issue.

The milestone marked a significant advancement in global connectivity and underscored the role that MTN, through Bayobab, plays as a digital ecosystem enabler to give Africans hope, dignity and opportunity.

2Africa, a META-led digital infrastructure initiative, is the first subsea cable to provide a continuous link between East and West Africa while extending onward to the Middle East, South Asia and Europe. The system has taken nearly six years to build.

It crosses 50 jurisdictions and required constant adjustment to shifting regulatory environments and technical conditions.

Its delivery reflects years of close collaboration, technical innovation and a shared vision among 2Africa consortium partners to connect communities, drive economic growth, and enable transformative digital experiences across Africa and beyond.

“For MTN, 2Africa isn’t just a cable but rather a statement of intent of what can be achieved when the world’s technology leaders and Africa’s own champions come together with purpose,” said Mazen Mroué CEO, MTN Group Digital Infrastructure, receiving the award on behalf of MTN and Bayobab.

“This project stands as proof that global scale and African leadership can combine to build the infrastructure that will define the next chapter of Africa’s growth story. Yes, together we’re connecting Africa to the world, but above all, we’re connecting Africa to its potential.”

2Africa delivers a step change in international bandwidth for Africa. On the West segment, from England to South Africa, the cable supports 21 Tbps per fibre pair with 8 fibre pairs on the trunk, totalling 168 Tbps.

In the Mediterranean, shorter distances allow for more than 30 Tbps per fibre pair, and with 16 fibre pairs, the system can deliver over 180 Tbps in these segments.

This leap in capacity is expected to contribute up to $36.9 billion USD to Africa’s GDP within the first two to three years of operation, boosting job creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation hubs across the continent.

With landings in 33+ countries and counting, 2Africa will help enable connectivity for 3 billion people – over 30 percent of the world’s population.

This scale is unprecedented, and it was only possible through the collective effort of stakeholders across the ecosystem.

Mroué said, “At MTN, we view connectivity as the foundation of Africa’s digital future. Through Bayobab, we bring world-class infrastructure capability and the reach of a network serving over 300 million subscribers across 16 African markets. Of course, the Bayobab footprint, which embeds just under 135 thousand kilometres of cable extends beyond these markets to accelerates Africa’s Digital Transformation and AI adoption.”

Building 2Africa required pushing the boundaries of subsea infrastructure. The cable is double the capacity of older systems. It incorporates undersea optical wavelength switching, enabling flexible bandwidth management and supporting evolving demands for AI-Enabled Data Centre, cloud, and high-bandwidth applications.

Advanced SDM (Spatial Division Multiplexing) technology was deployed and undersea optical wavelength switching for flexible bandwidth management incorporated.

The cable burial depth was increased by 50 percent and carefully routed the cable to avoid seabed hazards like hot brine pools and the Congo Canyon turbidity currents, optimizing for both capacity and reliability.

Over 35 offshore vessels and extensive local operations were mobilised, with specialist equipment deployed to ensure safe and resilient installation across 50 jurisdictions.

2Africa’s success is rooted in partnership. The consortium led by Meta, included Bayobab, center3, CMI, Orange, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group, and WIOCC.

The 2Africa celebration ceremony was held at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town.

Disclosed on Wednesday, Member tags let you define your role in each group. For example, you could be “Anna’s Dad” in one group and “Goalkeeper” in another. It’s especially useful in larger groups where not everyone knows each other.

Text stickers now let you turn any word into a sticker using Sticker Search. You can also add these stickers directly to your sticker packs without sending them first, making it easier to personalise your messages.

Event reminders allow organisers to set notifications for invitees when creating events in group chats. Whether it’s a meeting, call, or party, these reminders help ensure people don’t miss it.

These updates complement other features WhatsApp has introduced over the years, like sharing files up to 2GB, sending HD media, screen sharing, and voice chats.

These new features will enable users manage their roles, messages, and events better, making WhatsApp group chats simpler to manage and follow.