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Italy Investigates Spyware Targeting Seven WhatsApp Users

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Italy’s government reported on Wednesday that seven mobile phone users in the country were targeted by spyware on WhatsApp, sparking concerns over privacy violations. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office called the situation “particularly serious” and has directed the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) to investigate. The targeted individuals included a journalist and a prominent migrant rescue activist.

Luca Casarini, co-founder of the Mediterranea Saving Humans charity, shared with Reuters the spyware alert he received from WhatsApp on Friday, the same day Meta Platforms accused the surveillance company Paragon Solutions of targeting roughly 90 users across several countries, including activists and journalists.

The Italian cybersecurity agency was informed about the seven confirmed cases, but Meta has withheld the identities of the individuals to protect their privacy. The spyware also impacted users across various other EU nations, including Belgium, Greece, and Spain, among others.

Meta alleged that Paragon Solutions, reportedly based in the U.S., used a sophisticated “zero-click” hack to infiltrate users’ phones and steal data, a method that requires no interaction from the targeted individuals. A cease-and-desist letter was sent to Paragon, but the company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Casarini, a frequent target of criticism from anti-migrant media, said the attempt to hack his phone was a violation of democracy. Similarly, Francesco Cancellato, an Italian journalist and recipient of one of the spyware alerts, expressed concern about the intrusion while conducting his own investigation into the incident.

 

Meta’s WhatsApp Reveals Paragon Spyware Targeted Users in Over 24 Countries

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WhatsApp, the popular messaging service owned by Meta Platforms, disclosed that Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions targeted its users in two dozen countries, including journalists and members of civil society. The company revealed that approximately 90 users were compromised through a zero-click hack, which did not require any user interaction to install spyware. WhatsApp has since sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon and disrupted the hacking efforts, working with the Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab and informing law enforcement. The spyware, often sold to governments, has been found on the devices of activists, journalists, and politicians, raising alarms over the proliferation of surveillance tools. While Paragon claims to operate ethically, the latest revelations suggest otherwise.

 

WhatsApp and Meta Get Relief as NCLAT Lifts Data Sharing Ban

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Meta Platforms and WhatsApp received a significant relief from an Indian tribunal, as the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) temporarily suspended a five-year ban on data sharing between WhatsApp and other Meta entities. The ban had been imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in November, and the suspension provides Meta with a crucial reprieve. The tech giant had warned that this restriction could severely impact its advertising business, particularly by disrupting the way it targets users across its platforms.

Meta had contested the CCI’s directive, arguing that the data sharing ban would have serious consequences, including the potential rollback of certain features essential for its business model. Specifically, Meta criticized the CCI for lacking the “technical expertise” necessary to fully understand the complex implications of such an order. According to Meta, the inability to share data between WhatsApp and its other platforms would create significant operational challenges, particularly affecting its ability to target advertisements effectively across platforms.

On Thursday, the NCLAT issued an order suspending the data sharing ban while it continues to examine Meta’s appeal against the CCI’s antitrust decision. The tribunal acknowledged that enforcing the ban could lead to a “collapse” of WhatsApp’s business model, emphasizing the substantial consequences for both WhatsApp and Meta if the restriction were to remain in place. The temporary suspension allows Meta to continue its operations while the legal process unfolds, offering a crucial window for the company to make its case.

India is Meta’s largest market, with more than 350 million Facebook users and over 500 million WhatsApp users. The potential disruption caused by the data sharing ban could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Meta’s advertising business but also for the broader ecosystem of businesses that rely on Meta’s platforms for targeted advertising. In its appeal to the NCLAT, Meta had highlighted the risk of having to pause or roll back certain features, such as those allowing businesses in India to personalize ads based on user interactions across WhatsApp and other Meta services. The ongoing legal battle underscores the increasing scrutiny faced by global tech companies operating in India, particularly concerning data privacy and competition issues.