New Victim Emerges: Paragon Spyware Strikes Again!
In a shocking revelation, another individual has emerged as a victim of a spyware campaign allegedly conducted via WhatsApp, linked to the Israeli company Paragon. Beppe Caccio, co-founder of Mediterranea Saving Humans, an NGO dedicated to aiding immigrants, shared his experience with TechCrunch, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Details of the Spyware Attack on Activists
Caccio’s disclosure follows a similar announcement by his colleague, Luca Casarini, who publicly stated last week that he had received a notification from WhatsApp regarding a suspected spyware attack. This incident raises significant concerns about privacy and the safety of activists.
Legal Action and Transparency
During a recent press conference organized by Sandro Ruotolo, an Italian Member of the European Parliament, Casarini confirmed that he has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office in Palermo, Italy. His intention is clear: to uncover the identity of those behind the attacks on him and his organization.
Casarini emphasized, “We don’t have anything to hide. Those who spy have a lot to hide.” His statement underlines the importance of accountability in situations involving privacy violations.
Previous Reports of Targeting
Prior to Caccio’s announcement, three other individuals had also reported receiving notifications from WhatsApp about being targeted by the spyware. Among the victims are:
- Francesco Cancellato, director of the news website Fanpage.it
- Husam El Gomati, a Libyan activist residing in Sweden
- Luca Casarini himself
These incidents are part of a broader campaign that reportedly targeted around 90 individuals, as revealed by WhatsApp on January 31. Although WhatsApp disrupted the campaign, they did not attribute it to any specific government, nor did Paragon disclose which government client was involved.
Government Responses and Denials
The Italian government has denied any involvement in the hacking campaign. A statement from the Prime Minister’s office asserted that legally protected individuals, including journalists, were not targeted by Italian intelligence services. Moreover, the government indicated that Meta (WhatsApp’s parent company) identified additional targets in various countries, including:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Germany
- Greece
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- The Netherlands
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
Most of these countries have not responded to TechCrunch’s inquiries regarding the matter.
Austrian Ministry Comments
An official from the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed to TechCrunch that local authorities are aware of the Paragon attacks but refrained from providing further details.
Additional Victims and Ongoing Investigations
During the same press conference, David Yambio, co-founder of the Italy-based NGO Refugees in Libya, disclosed that he, too, was a target of a spyware campaign. Although not through WhatsApp, he was notified by Apple regarding a “mercenary spyware attack” on November 13. It remains uncertain whether Yambio’s case is connected to the Paragon spyware incidents.
As of now, neither Paragon nor representatives from the Italian government have responded to requests for comments from TechCrunch.
For more information on cybersecurity and privacy issues, visit TechCrunch or check out our privacy resources.
