An Israeli spyware company has taken significant steps to suspend its operations in Italy following allegations that its product was misused to target critics of the government, raising concerns over privacy and civil liberties within the nation.
Spyware Company Suspends Italy Operations Amid Activist Targeting Allegations
Spyware Company Suspends Italy Operations Amid Activist Targeting Allegations
Israeli firm Paragon Solutions halts access after accusations of invasive spyware use against critics and activists.
An Israeli spyware firm has reportedly ceased its operations for clients in Italy amid serious allegations that its software was used to target government critics. This move follows WhatsApp's claim last week that Paragon Solutions' spyware was involved in a campaign that affected 90 users across various countries, including journalists and members of civil society. The Italian government has confirmed that seven mobile phones in Italy were targeted, describing the incident as "particularly serious."
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office has denied any involvement and has ordered a thorough investigation through Italy's National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN). A few individuals targeted have publicly shared their experiences, such as investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato, critic Husam El Gomati, and NGO founder Luca Casarini, who advocates for migrants' rights.
Reports indicate that Paragon Solutions has now terminated engagements with its Italian clients, which reportedly included intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Known for its flagship product, Graphite, the firm affirms that its technology is designed for crime prevention. Paragon is recognized as a rival to the notorious NSO Group, maker of the infamous Pegasus spyware.
WhatsApp, which first publicized the alleged espionage initiative, criticized the use of such spyware and voiced their commitment to preserving user communication privacy. They revealed that the affected users had numbers registered in various European countries, and warned that these individuals were targeted through zero-click attacks, whereby malicious documents were sent without any required user interaction.
The identities of other victims in this wide-reaching spyware campaign remain undisclosed, further intensifying calls for accountability in the use of digital surveillance technologies.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office has denied any involvement and has ordered a thorough investigation through Italy's National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN). A few individuals targeted have publicly shared their experiences, such as investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato, critic Husam El Gomati, and NGO founder Luca Casarini, who advocates for migrants' rights.
Reports indicate that Paragon Solutions has now terminated engagements with its Italian clients, which reportedly included intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Known for its flagship product, Graphite, the firm affirms that its technology is designed for crime prevention. Paragon is recognized as a rival to the notorious NSO Group, maker of the infamous Pegasus spyware.
WhatsApp, which first publicized the alleged espionage initiative, criticized the use of such spyware and voiced their commitment to preserving user communication privacy. They revealed that the affected users had numbers registered in various European countries, and warned that these individuals were targeted through zero-click attacks, whereby malicious documents were sent without any required user interaction.
The identities of other victims in this wide-reaching spyware campaign remain undisclosed, further intensifying calls for accountability in the use of digital surveillance technologies.
