Reports suggest that 90 individuals, including journalists and members of civil society, have been targeted by those familiar with the issue.
The termination of the contract came soon after WhatsApp revealed that Paragon’s spyware was used to target multiple individuals. Paragon, like other spyware vendors, sells cyber weapons to government clients for crime prevention purposes. The entities behind the alleged attacks on certain government clients remain unknown.
The decision to end the Italian contract was prompted by the discovery that two activists critical of Italian investigative journalist and dealings with Libya were among those targeted. All three were vocal opponents of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government.
Meloni’s office denied any involvement in the alleged violations after accusations surfaced, stating that neither the national intelligence reporting agency nor the government was responsible.
Anonymous sources speaking to The Guardian revealed that Paragon initially faced scrutiny when the allegations of spyware abuse emerged. The Italian contract was temporarily suspended, and later terminated for violating the terms of service and ethical framework agreed upon.
A request for comment from an Italian government spokesman was made by The Guardian. Meloni is expected to address the alleged violations in Congress, and WhatsApp reported that approximately seven Italians were affected.
In response to inquiries, a Paragon representative declined to confirm or deny developments, citing company policy not to discuss matters related to potential clients.
Francesco Cancello, editor-in-chief of investigative news outlet FanPage, was informed that his phone was targeted using hacking software. The Graphite Spyware, similar to Pegasus, can infect phones without user interaction, possibly compromising devices.
WhatsApp detected the hacking attempts with the help of the University of Toronto’s Civic Research Institute. There is uncertainty about ongoing monitoring by government clients and the extent of involvement in each case.
The motive behind Cancello’s targeting remains unclear, but previous investigations by the publication may have played a role. Paragon’s move may allay some concerns, but unanswered questions remain about other cases uncovered by WhatsApp.
Paragon, recently acquired by US company AE Industry Partners, specializes in national security markets. The company has not responded to requests for comment about the acquisition.
Paragon previously secured a contract with ICE, the US immigration and customs enforcement agency, under the Biden administration. The contract’s compliance with regulations restricting spyware use by the federal government is unclear, as it was reportedly suspended.
Source: www.theguardian.com
