Fri Jan 31 18:14:34 UTC 2025: ## WhatsApp Accuses Israeli Spyware Firm Paragon of Targeting 90 Users
**London/San Francisco** – Meta-owned WhatsApp has accused Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions of targeting at least 90 of its users, including journalists and members of civil society, in a sophisticated hacking attempt. A WhatsApp official confirmed the attack to Reuters on Friday, stating that the company has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon and is referring the targeted individuals to Citizen Lab, a Canadian internet watchdog group for further investigation.
While WhatsApp declined to disclose specifics about the victims or the exact methods used by Paragon, the official confirmed that law enforcement and industry partners have been notified. The company expressed “high confidence” that the targeted users’ accounts were potentially compromised.
Paragon Solutions, co-founded by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and recently sold for $900 million to US private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, markets its surveillance software to governments, claiming it is crucial for fighting crime and protecting national security. However, this latest revelation casts doubt on these claims.
Natalia Krapiva of Access Now, a digital rights advocacy group, noted that Paragon had previously been perceived as a more responsible player in the spyware industry, but this incident suggests otherwise. She highlighted the broader issue, stating that such abuses are “a feature of the commercial spyware industry.”
This incident follows numerous reports of Israeli-made spyware, including Pegasus, being used globally to target activists, journalists, and even world leaders. The discovery underscores growing concerns about the unchecked proliferation of sophisticated spyware technology and its potential for misuse. AE Industrial Partners has yet to comment on the allegations. WhatsApp reiterated its commitment to protecting user privacy.
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