Photo credit: www.bbc.com
Spyware Firm Cuts Ties with Italian Clients Amid Targeting Allegations
An Israeli spyware firm has reportedly ceased operations for its clients in Italy following serious allegations that its software was employed to surveil critics of the Italian government.
This decision follows a statement from WhatsApp last week, which claimed that the spyware produced by Paragon Solutions had targeted 90 users across various countries, including numerous journalists and members of civil society.
In response to the situation, the Italian government confirmed on Wednesday that seven individuals in the country had been impacted by the spyware, labelling the event as “particularly serious.”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration has denied any involvement in these surveillance activities and has instructed Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) to investigate further.
The BBC has sought comments from both Paragon Solutions and the Italian government regarding the unfolding situation.
Among the individuals allegedly targeted in Italy are Francesco Cancellato, an investigative journalist; Husam El Gomati, known for his criticism of Italy’s role in Libya; and Luca Casarini, founder of an Italian non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on aiding migrants.
According to reports from The Guardian and Haaretz, Paragon Solutions has now ended its relationships with clients in Italy, which reportedly include both an intelligence agency and a law enforcement body.
Paragon Solutions specializes in working solely with governmental organizations. Its leading product, Graphite, provides users with comprehensive access to targeted devices, with the company asserting that it is designed to assist in the fight against crime.
The company is noted as a competitor to NSO Group, which is known for its widely publicized spyware, Pegasus.
WhatsApp initially brought attention to the alleged spyware campaign last week, stating that the operation aimed to compromise several users, including journalists and activists.
A spokesperson for WhatsApp remarked that they had “disrupted a spyware campaign… that targeted a number of users including journalists and members of civil society.” They further emphasized the necessity for accountability among spyware firms and reiterated WhatsApp’s commitment to safeguarding users’ private communications.
While the identities of additional individuals who may have been targets in this campaign remain undisclosed, it has been noted that those affected had phone numbers registered with prefixes from several European countries such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, and Germany, among others.
According to a WhatsApp representative speaking to Reuters, the targeted individuals were sent malicious documents designed to infiltrate their devices without requiring any action on their part—commonly referred to as a “zero-click hack.”
Source
www.bbc.com