Spyware maker Paragon has accused the Italian government of rejecting its offer to help investigate whether a journalist was spied on using its technology. In a statement reported by Haaretz, Paragon stated that this refusal led the company to sever ties with its Italian government clients. The company offered a solution to determine if its system had been used against the journalist in violation of Italian law and contractual terms, but the Italian authorities opted not to pursue this option.
Latest Twist in a Scandal
This accusation from Paragon is the latest development in a scandal that began in January when WhatsApp disclosed a mass-hacking campaign targeting its users. The messaging app informed around 90 users that they were targeted with spyware developed by Paragon, a company co-founded by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak. Paragon, which also has a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has positioned itself as a more responsible vendor compared to others in the industry.
Italian Government’s Response
Following the publication of Paragon’s statement by Haaretz, the Italian government rebuffed the claims, stating that the decision to suspend and terminate the contract with Paragon was mutual. The Department of Information for Security (DIS) declined Paragon’s assistance in checking the logs on the agencies’ Graphite spyware systems, citing concerns about exposing confidential data to a private foreign company and compromising national security. The Italian government sources mentioned that allowing Paragon to assist would have jeopardized the reputation of Italian intelligence agencies among international peers.
