The usage of Paragon spyware in Italy via WhatsApp, which was targeting members of civil society organisations, will be discussed in a joint debate with MEPs in the civil liberties committee, the European Commission and WhatsApp representatives, as well as with those targeted by spyware.
Join the livestream to hear from:
• Representative of the European Commission
• Representative from Whatsapp
• Mattia Ferrari, victim of being spied at by the Paragon spyware
• Luca Casarini, victim of being spied at by the Paragon spyware
• Helen Charles, Director for Product and Monetisation, META
The spyware, reportedly used by government clients, was designed to infiltrate encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal. According to WhatsApp, a potential breach was detected, and evidence suggests that several individuals’ devices were compromised. While it remains unclear who orchestrated the attacks, WhatsApp has taken legal action against Paragon Solutions.
In the past, the European Parliament has been very active scrutinising the use of spyware. The committee of inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA), established in March 2022, investigated the misuse of Pegasus spyware in the EU. Its 2023 report led the European Parliament to recommend stronger legal enforcement, election security, and spyware export controls. During the previous term, the LIBE Committee organised exchanges of views to follow up on the findings of the PEGA Committee.