Paragon is not collaborating with Italian authorities probing spyware attacks, report says

In a significant development concerning the ongoing spyware scandal in Italy, Paragon Solutions, a surveillance technology firm, is reportedly not cooperating with Italian authorities probing allegations of government-sanctioned hacking. The controversy began last year when WhatsApp and Apple alerted several individuals, including journalists and activists in Italy, about being targeted with spyware. WhatsApp specifically named Paragon Solutions as the provider of the 'Graphite' spyware used in a hacking campaign that affected around 90 individuals globally. This revelation sparked a major scandal in Italy, leading numerous victims to file criminal complaints and prompting prosecutors to launch an investigation into the matter. Despite initial commitments to assist in the inquiry, Paragon has allegedly failed to respond to a formal request for information sent by Italian prosecutors through the Israeli government. According to Wired Italy, a year has passed since the investigation commenced, yet the company has remained silent. Following the scandal’s outbreak, Paragon publicly criticized the Italian government for rejecting its offer to help investigate the alleged hacking of journalists. In a bold move, Paragon even terminated its contracts with Italy’s intelligence agencies, AISE and AISI, citing the government’s refusal to engage in a cooperative investigation. The reasons behind Paragon’s lack of response are unclear, with speculation surrounding potential intervention from the Israeli government. Previously, The Guardian reported that Israeli authorities had seized documents from NSO Group to obstruct compliance with legal demands related to a lawsuit involving WhatsApp. Eitay Mack, an Israeli human rights attorney, noted that while the Israeli government could compel local firms to comply with foreign judicial requests, this has rarely occurred in practice. This lack of cooperation has also been evident in other international investigations, as seen with Spain’s High Court, which recently closed its inquiry into NSO’s spyware targeting Spanish politicians due to insufficient cooperation from Israeli authorities. Despite the turmoil, Paragon Solutions aims to position itself as a more ethical alternative to other spyware firms. However, the company is now facing its first major public scandal while continuing to maintain an active contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has utilized Paragon’s technology in operations against terrorism and drug trafficking. The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has consistently denied allegations of hacking journalists Francesco Cancellato and Ciro Pellegrino, whose devices were reportedly compromised by the Graphite spyware. However, the Citizen Lab, an organization focused on investigating spyware abuses, confirmed that both journalists had indeed been hacked. The case remains under investigation, with Italian prosecutors affirming that forensics on Cancellato's device confirmed hacking, while they were unable to reach a conclusion regarding Pellegrino’s phone. The unfolding situation continues to raise questions about accountability and ethics in the use of surveillance technology.