Recent reports reveal allegations that Paragon Solutions spyware was used against journalists and civil society members in Italy, prompting the company to stop access for local clients as investigations unfold.
Spyware Firm Suspends Access in Italy Amid Activist Targeting Controversy
Spyware Firm Suspends Access in Italy Amid Activist Targeting Controversy
Israeli company Paragon Solutions cuts off Italian clients following accusations of targeting activists and critics.
An Israeli spyware firm, Paragon Solutions, has reportedly ceased access for its clients in Italy amid serious allegations that its software was utilized to target critics of the Italian government. This development follows WhatsApp's claim last week that Paragon's product was responsible for compromising the accounts of 90 users across two dozen countries, which included journalists and members of civil society.
Italy's government confirmed on Wednesday that at least seven individuals within the country had their mobile phones targeted through the spyware employed in WhatsApp, describing the attacks as "particularly serious." The Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office firmly denied any governmental involvement and requested that Italy's National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) investigate the matter. Efforts to obtain comments from both Paragon Solutions and the Italian government have been made by the BBC.
Three individuals who have come forward as alleged targets are Francesco Cancellato, an investigative journalist; Husam El Gomati, a notable critic of Italian military involvement in Libya; and Luca Casarini, who founded an NGO dedicated to assisting migrants. According to reports from The Guardian and Haaretz, Paragon Solutions has subsequently terminated its business relationships with its Italian clients, which reportedly consist of an intelligence agency and a law enforcement entity.
The core product offered by Paragon is called Graphite, which purportedly allows complete access to the targeted mobile phones to combat crime. The company is known to compete with the NSO Group, the manufacturer behind the notorious Pegasus spyware.
WhatsApp initially reported the alleged targeting campaign last week and stated they had "disrupted" it, aiming to safeguard users, including journalists and civil society members. A WhatsApp spokesperson emphasized the necessity for accountability among spyware companies and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting private communications.
The exact identities of additional targeted individuals remain undisclosed as investigations continue. Reports indicate that those targeted possessed phone numbers registered in various European countries, which include Spain, Portugal, Greece, and several others. Furthermore, it has been clarified by a WhatsApp spokesperson to Reuters that the spyware utilized employed a so-called "zero-click" method, exploiting vulnerabilities without requiring any action from the users to activate the hack.
