Report details spyware use against Italian activists and journalist

Report details spyware use against Italian activists and journalist

  • 19.03.2025 10:24
  • washingtonpost.com
  • Keywords: Spyware, Hacking, Privacy Issues

Paragon spyware targeted WhatsApp accounts of Italian activists and journalists critical of migrant policies. The software, developed by an Israeli firm, was used to hack devices linked to rescue operations in the Mediterranean. This revelation raises questions about the ethics of surveillance technology and its impact on civil liberties.

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Estimated market influence

Paragon Solutions

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Analyst rating: N/A

Developed spyware used to target activists and journalists.

WhatsApp

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Analyst rating: N/A

Helped identify victims and close a security vulnerability.

NSO Group

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Analyst rating: N/A

Sells spyware to autocratic regimes, leading to misuse against civil groups.

Context

Report Details Spyware Use Against Italian Activists and Journalist - The Washington Post

  • Paragon software infected WhatsApp accounts of Italian activists critical of the government's migrant policies.
  • Luca Casarini, co-founder of Mediterranea Saving Humans, was among those targeted, along with Giuseppe Caccia.
  • The spyware, Graphite, was developed by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company with U.S. ties and federal contracts.
  • 90 people were notified by WhatsApp in January 2025 about hacking attempts linked to Paragon's spyware.
  • The editor-in-chief of an Italian news site also received a warning, but no evidence remained on their phone.
  • WhatsApp collaborated with Citizen Lab to identify victims and close the vulnerability used by Graphite.
  • The attack method involved inviting targets to a group chat and posting an altered PDF document; no click was needed for infection.
  • Unlike NSO Group's Pegasus, Graphite infects specific apps (e.g., WhatsApp) and remains undetected longer.
  • Italian government response has been inconsistent, with pending contracts with Paragon under investigation.
  • Hannah Neumann, a European Parliament member, criticized the ethical claims of spyware companies like Paragon.
  • The incident highlights concerns about surveillance tools targeting activists and journalists globally.