Paragon Refuses to Cooperate With Italian Authorities in Spyware Probe, Report Alleges
New allegations suggest that Paragon Solutions, the Israeli-American surveillance technology firm, is stonewalling Italian prosecutors investigating a massive spyware scandal. According to a report from Wired Italy, the company has failed to respond to a formal request for information sent via the Israeli government—more than a year after the investigation began. This development marks a significant turn in the ongoing Paragon spyware scandal, which has shaken Italy’s political and journalistic communities.
Last year, both WhatsApp and Apple alerted several Italian citizens—including journalists and activists—that they had been targeted with government-grade spyware. WhatsApp specifically identified Paragon as the supplier of the “Graphite” spyware used in a global hacking campaign that affected roughly 90 individuals. The notifications triggered a wave of criminal complaints and a formal investigation by Italian prosecutors.
The Alleged Refusal to Cooperate in the Italian Spyware Investigation
Building on the initial scandal, the latest twist involves Paragon’s apparent unwillingness to assist authorities. Wired Italy reports that prosecutors in Rome and Naples jointly sent a formal request for information to Paragon through diplomatic channels. However, the company has not replied. This silence contradicts earlier public statements from Paragon, in which the firm claimed it had offered to help investigate the hacking of a journalist—an offer it says the Italian government rejected.
As a result, Paragon even canceled its contracts with Italy’s two main intelligence agencies, AISE and AISI. The company argued that the Italian government turned down its proposal to probe whether a journalist was actually spied on using Graphite. This public feud between a spyware vendor and a former client is highly unusual in the secretive surveillance industry.
Possible Reasons for Paragon’s Silence
Observers speculate that the Israeli government may have intervened to block Paragon’s cooperation. In 2024, The Guardian reported that Israeli authorities seized documents from NSO Group to prevent the company from complying with legal demands in a lawsuit brought by WhatsApp. Israeli human rights lawyer Eitay Mack told Wired Italy that while the Israeli government has the legal power to force local companies to cooperate with foreign judicial requests, it has never done so. This context raises questions about whether Paragon is acting on its own or under state pressure.
Meanwhile, Spain’s High Court closed its own investigation into NSO spyware targeting Spanish politicians earlier this year, citing a lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities. This pattern suggests a broader reluctance among Israeli surveillance firms to engage with foreign probes.
Paragon’s Attempt to Position Itself as an Ethical Alternative
In the history of government spyware, it is extremely rare for a company to engage in a public dispute with a former customer. Paragon’s aggressive stance appears to be part of a strategic effort to differentiate itself from rivals like NSO Group and Intellexa, which have been mired in numerous scandals worldwide. The company’s now-defunct official website once claimed it provides customers “with ethically based tools, teams, and insights.”
However, the Paragon spyware scandal is its first major public controversy. The firm currently holds an active contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been using Paragon’s technology to arrest and deport tens of thousands of immigrants. ICE told lawmakers that its law enforcement arm, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), deploys Paragon’s spyware to counter terrorism and drug trafficking.
Italy’s Government Denies Involvement in Journalist Hacking
Italy’s government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has consistently denied authorizing the hacking of journalists Francesco Cancellato and Ciro Pellegrino, both of whom work for the online news outlet Fanpage. The Citizen Lab, a leading research organization that has investigated spyware abuses for over a decade, confirmed that both journalists were compromised using Graphite. Other victims include activists from Mediterranea Saving Humans, an Italian nonprofit dedicated to rescuing migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
In June of last year, the Italian parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence agencies concluded that the targeting of activists was lawful. However, the committee stated it could not find evidence that Cancellato was targeted, and it did not examine Pellegrino’s case at all. Then, in March, the same prosecutors who requested information from Paragon announced that a forensic analysis of Cancellato’s device confirmed he was hacked, though the results for Pellegrino’s phone were inconclusive.
What Comes Next for the Italian Spyware Probe?
The prosecutors’ investigation remains open. Without Paragon’s cooperation, Italian authorities face significant hurdles in uncovering the full scope of the spyware campaign. This situation underscores the challenges that national governments encounter when trying to hold foreign surveillance companies accountable. For now, the Paragon spyware scandal continues to unfold, leaving journalists, activists, and legal experts watching closely for any signs of progress—or further obstruction.
For more insights into similar cases, read about how spyware targets journalists globally and explore the ethics of government surveillance.
Do you have more information about Paragon Solutions and the spyware scandal in Italy? Contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram and Keybase @lorenzofb, or email.
