Prominent Italian businessman Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone has been identified as a target of Paragon spyware, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing surveillance scandal currently unfolding in Italy. According to reports from IrpiMedia and La Stampa, Caltagirone received a formal notification from WhatsApp this past January, alerting him that his device had been compromised by the Israeli-developed surveillance software.
Expanding Scope of Surveillance
The inclusion of Caltagirone—who oversees a vast conglomerate with interests in construction, real estate, finance, and publishing, including the newspaper Il Messaggero—shifts the focus of the scandal. Previously, the list of known victims was primarily restricted to journalists and civil society figures. Notable individuals previously targeted include reporters Francesco Cancellato and Ciro Pellegrino from Fanpage, as well as immigration activists Luca Casarini and Giuseppe Caccia from Mediterranea Saving Humans.
While the motive behind targeting the billionaire businessman remains unclear, his holding company, Caltagirone SpA, has not yet issued a statement regarding the security breach.
The Paragon Controversy and Corporate Ties
Paragon, a company that has long marketed itself as an “ethical” alternative in the spyware industry, has faced mounting scrutiny. Following earlier revelations regarding the targeting of Fanpage journalists, the company severed its ties with Italian intelligence agencies, which had previously utilized its tools.
The corporate landscape surrounding Paragon has also shifted. In December 2024, the Israel-based firm was acquired by U.S. private equity giant AE Industrial, with reports indicating a merger with the cybersecurity firm REDLattice. Recent inquiries into Paragon’s operations—including its contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—have been redirected to REDLattice leadership, signaling the completion of the transition.
Institutional Silence
As the investigation into the use of Paragon software continues, both the spyware manufacturer and Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, have declined to comment on the specific targeting of Caltagirone or the broader implications of these security breaches.