Italian Businessman’s Phone Reportedly Targeted With Paragon Spyware
A well-known Italian businessman’s phone reportedly targeted with Paragon spyware has reignited concerns over digital surveillance in Europe. According to Italian media outlets IrpiMedia and La Stampa, billionaire Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone was among nearly 90 individuals notified by WhatsApp earlier this year about a spyware attack.
Caltagirone Among Dozens Alerted By WhatsApp
In January, WhatsApp sent alerts to dozens of Italian users, including Caltagirone, warning them of a potential compromise by spyware created by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli-based company. While the motives behind the targeting remain unclear, the report suggests that Paragon’s surveillance tools were used to infiltrate high-profile figures’ devices.
A spokesperson for Caltagirone SpA, the businessman’s holding company, declined to comment on the reports.
Who Is Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone?
Caltagirone is one of Italy’s most influential businessmen, with vast interests spanning construction, real estate, finance, and publishing. His media assets include Il Messaggero, a major Italian newspaper. His alleged targeting places him as the first business leader to appear on Italy’s growing list of Paragon spyware victims.
Expanding List Of Paragon Spyware Victims In Italy
Previously, the victims of the Paragon spyware were mostly journalists and activists. Notable among them are journalists Francesco Cancellato and Ciro Pellegrino from Fanpage, and immigration activists Luca Casarini and Giuseppe Caccia from Mediterranea Saving Humans, a nonprofit known for its migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
The addition of a powerful entrepreneur like Caltagirone signals that the Paragon spyware scandal is expanding beyond traditional activist and media targets.
Italian Government’s Connection To Paragon Solutions
Following revelations that journalists had been targeted, Paragon Solutions reportedly cut ties with the Italian government, whose intelligence agencies were among its customers. The company had long marketed itself as an “ethical” spyware maker, claiming its tools were designed to assist law enforcement and counter-terrorism operations—not political or private surveillance.
Paragon’s Global Ties And Controversy
Headquartered in Israel, Paragon Solutions was acquired by U.S. private equity giant AE Industrial Partners in December 2024. The acquisition included plans to merge Paragon with REDLattice, a cybersecurity firm specializing in digital defense and offensive cyber capabilities.
Despite its claims of responsible use, Paragon spyware has faced intense scrutiny for its alleged deployment against civilians, journalists, and now business executives, reigniting the debate around the ethics of commercial spyware.
The Growing Debate Around Spyware In Europe
This latest revelation — an Italian businessman’s phone reportedly targeted with Paragon spyware — intensifies calls for tighter regulations on the spyware industry. Privacy advocates argue that even companies claiming “ethical use” often lose control of their products once they enter the intelligence marketplace.
As Italy investigates the breach, questions linger: Who ordered the surveillance — and why?
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