Rome – Saba:
Italy has terminated its contract with the Israeli spyware company Paragon, following reports that the Italian government had used its technology to hack the phones of several critics and activists within the country.
A report issued by the Parliamentary Security Committee in Rome on Monday revealed that Italian intelligence services initially suspended the contract before finally terminating it following widespread media and public pressure, according to al-Mayadeen TV.
Meta's WhatsApp platform announced earlier this year that Paragon's software had been used to target dozens of users, including journalists and members of Mediterranea, an organization active in migrant rescue operations at sea and known for its criticism of the policies of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
For its part, the Italian government confirmed last February that seven individuals had been targeted by the spyware, but denied any involvement in illegal activities, stating that it had referred the case to the National Cybersecurity Agency for investigation.
According to the parliamentary report, the domestic and foreign intelligence agencies activated cooperation contracts with Paragon in 2023 and 2024 and used its software with a "very limited" number of individuals, with judicial authorization.
The parliamentary committee stated that foreign intelligence relied on the Paragon software in cases related to the pursuit of fugitives, combating illegal immigration, terrorism, organized crime, fuel smuggling, and activities related to internal security and espionage.
| more of (International) |