Pegasus Spyware Targets European Citizens

Spyware Campaign Targets Individuals Across Europe

A recent press release from the Italian government detailed a spyware campaign, initially brought to light by WhatsApp, utilizing software developed by Paragon Solutions. This campaign impacted individuals in multiple European nations.

Government Response and Denials

Led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Italian government has refuted any involvement in the targeting of Italian citizens. Specifically, they deny responsibility for the surveillance of Francesco Cancellato, a journalist leading Fanpage.it, and Luca Casarini, an activist associated with Mediterranea Saving Humans, an organization aiding immigrants.

The Agenzia per la Cybersicurezza Nazionale (ACN), Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency, engaged with WhatsApp and its legal representation, Advant. They were informed that seven mobile phone users within Italy were identified as targets within the broader spyware operation.

Scope of the Campaign

WhatsApp, citing privacy considerations, declined to release the identities of those targeted in Italy. However, the Italian government’s statement indicates that the campaign extended beyond its borders.

Affected countries, based on phone code analysis, include Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. This highlights the widespread nature of the surveillance effort.

Requests for confirmation regarding the number of Italian targets, the listed countries, and the attributed claims made to WhatsApp have gone unanswered by WhatsApp at this time.

Recent Disruptions and Identified Targets

This statement follows WhatsApp’s earlier announcement of having successfully disrupted a spyware campaign impacting approximately 90 users across more than two dozen countries, with a significant presence in Europe.

Several individuals have publicly stated they were targeted, including Francesco Cancellato, Luca Casarini, and Husam El Gomati, a Libyan activist based in Sweden. El Gomati has been vocal in his criticism of the actions of both the Italian and Libyan governments concerning immigration in the Mediterranean Sea.

Paragon Solutions' Stance

Paragon Solutions communicated to TechCrunch that its surveillance technology is sold to the U.S. government and other unspecified allied nations.

The company asserts that its terms and conditions explicitly prohibit the targeting of journalists and civil society figures, maintaining a “zero-tolerance policy” against such actions. Paragon claims it will sever ties with any customer violating these terms.

Lack of Further Comment

Neither Fleming nor Paragon Solutions have responded to requests for comment regarding whether the countries identified by the Italian government are, in fact, customers of Paragon.

Similarly, Italy’s ACN and the Prime Minister’s office have not provided responses to requests for further clarification.

Important Note: This incident underscores the growing concerns surrounding the use of spyware and its potential impact on privacy and freedom of speech.