News Summary

Luca Casarini, the Italian founder of the NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans, has been informed by WhatsApp that his phone was targeted by military-grade spyware developed by Paragon Solutions. Casarini, known for his criticism of Italy’s alleged complicity in abuses against migrants in Libya, is one of 90 individuals reportedly targeted, including journalists and civil society members. The spyware attack, detected in December, was executed using the ‘Graphite’ hacking software, which allows access to all phone data, including encrypted messages. This revelation is seen as an attack on activism and solidarity, especially against efforts to aid migrants. The Italian government has not commented on its alleged use of Paragon’s spyware. This incident follows a broader pattern of surveillance concerns, with Paragon’s products supposedly limited to democratic countries. Casarini remains defiant, vowing to resist authoritarian surveillance.