Italian businessman's phone reportedly targeted with Paragon spyware | TechCrunch

"On Thursday, Italian online investigative website IrpiMedia and newspaper La Stampa reported that Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone was among around 90 people who received a notification from WhatsApp in January, alerting him that he had been targeted with spyware made by Paragon Solutions. It's not immediately clear for what reason Caltagirone was targeted, and a spokesperson for his holding company, Caltagirone SpA, did not respond to a request for comment."

"Caltagirone's namesake holding company owns several firms across different industries, including construction, real estate, finance, and publishing, which includes Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. Caltagirone becomes the first businessman to be added to the list of Paragon victims in Italy. So far, the other victims include journalists Francesco Cancellato and Ciro Pellegrino, who work for online news site Fanpage; and immigration activists Luca Casarini and Giuseppe Caccia, who work for Mediterranea Saving Humans, an Italian non-government organization that helps rescue immigrants in the Mediterranean sea."

"The alleged targeting of Caltagirone now widens the ongoing Paragon spyware scandal in Italy to victims beyond journalists and activists. Following the reports of the Fanpage journalists being targeted, Paragon cut ties with the Italian government, whose intelligence agencies were its customers. Paragon, which has long claimed to be an "ethical" spyware maker, is headquartered in Israel, and was bought by U.S. private equity giant AE Industrial in December 2024."

Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone received a WhatsApp notification in January indicating he was targeted with Paragon spyware, one of roughly 90 notified individuals. Caltagirone heads a holding company with firms spanning construction, real estate, finance, and publishing, including newspaper Il Messaggero. He is the first businessman identified among Paragon victims in Italy, expanding the list beyond previously reported journalists and immigration activists. Following revelations about journalists' targeting, Paragon cut ties with the Italian government, whose intelligence agencies had been customers. Paragon is headquartered in Israel and was acquired by U.S. private equity firm AE Industrial in December 2024; a merger with REDLattice was reported.

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