News Summary

Paragon Solutions, an Israeli surveillance tech startup, has been linked to a recent spyware campaign targeting around 90 people, including journalists and civil society members. Notably, Luca Casarini, a founder of the Italian nonprofit Mediterranea Saving Humans, was among those targeted. This nonprofit is dedicated to rescuing immigrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Other victims include Francesco Cancellato, director of Fanpage.it, and Husam El Gomati, a Sweden-based activist. These individuals have been critical of the Italian government’s policies, raising concerns about potential state involvement and the use of Paragon’s spyware by Italian secret services. Paragon’s U.S. subsidiary claims their products are sold to select democracies and prohibit illicit targeting, yet questions remain about Italy’s involvement as a customer. The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto is actively investigating these cases, highlighting the ongoing issues with the global mercenary spyware industry.