An Italian vocal critic has been warned by WhatsApp about targeting military-grade spyware last week, raising concerns about potential use by a strong European government. A Libyan activist in Sweden, proposed Sweden, was also warned.
WhatsApp discovered that Husam El Gomati’s mobile phone, along with the phones of 89 other activists, journalists, and civil society members, were compromised in late December.
The messaging app, owned by Meta in California, stated that El Gomati and others may have been “compromised” by spyware created by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli-based company recently acquired by a US private equity firm.
Paragon declined to comment, but sources close to the company revealed that they had around 35 government customers, described as democratic governments.
Regarding El Gomati, Facebook shared a document from Libya linking him to a network involving Tripoli, Zawia, and the Italian Intelligence leader, connected to an illegal migration route and detention center, which was promptly discovered.
Criticism has been voiced for a long time about Italy supporting Libya’s coastal guards and militias to prevent people from crossing the Mediterranean, causing chaos among some activists.
El Gomati expressed concerns about protecting Libya’s confidential sources of information, highlighting the implications of Paragon’s spyware, called Graphite, which can intercept encrypted messages on apps like Signal and WhatsApp.
He emphasized the importance of safeguarding information as activists in Libya expose corruption and class control, stating that such issues can be a matter of life and death.
El Gomati mentioned the intrusive nature of spyware, particularly its ability to eavesdrop on conversations and access personal photos, raising significant privacy concerns.
Paragon, like other military-grade spyware manufacturers, was founded by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, primarily selling spyware to government clients for targeting purposes. They reportedly secured a contract with the US Immigration Agency under the Biden administration, subject to review due to concerns about compliance with new regulations on spyware use.
El Gomati contacted The Guardian following a story about Italian investigative journalist Francesco Cancelleri, the Editor-in-Chief of a news outlet known as Fan Page.
While it’s unclear which government may have targeted El Gomati and Cancelleri, WhatsApp notified individuals in over 20 countries, including Europe, about potential surveillance.
There are ongoing concerns regarding the release of Osama Nazim, also known as Al-Ramli, the former chief of Libya’s judicial police, accused of war crimes and other offenses. The International Criminal Court has questioned Libya’s handling of his release and return without consultation.
Source: www.theguardian.com
