Italian Businessman’s Phone Reportedly Targeted with Paragon Spyware

An influential Italian businessman, Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, was reportedly targeted with Paragon spyware, according to local news outlets.

On Thursday, Italian investigative site IrpiMedia and the newspaper La Stampa revealed that Caltagirone was among 90 people who received WhatsApp notifications in January, alerting them that they had been targeted by spyware from Paragon Solutions.

Unclear Motive for Targeting

It remains unclear why Caltagirone was specifically targeted, and a spokesperson from his holding company, Caltagirone SpA, did not respond to requests for comment. The company holds stakes in several industries, including construction, real estate, finance, and publishing, with a notable interest in Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

Caltagirone’s case marks a notable expansion of the Paragon spyware scandal in Italy, as he becomes the first businessman linked to the hacking campaign. Previous victims have mostly been journalists and activists, such as Francesco Cancellato and Ciro Pellegrino, both working for the online news site Fanpage, as well as immigration activists Luca Casarini and Giuseppe Caccia, affiliated with the humanitarian group Mediterranea Saving Humans.

Expanding the Spyware Scandal

Caltagirone’s inclusion broadens the scope of the ongoing Paragon spyware issue in Italy, extending beyond journalists and activists to high-profile business figures. After the targeting of Facebook journalists, Paragon ended its contract with the Italian government, whose intelligence agencies had previously been clients.

Paragon’s Background and Ownership

Paragon Solutions, a company based in Israel, has long promoted itself as an “ethical” spyware provider. In December 2024, AE Industrial, a U.S. private equity firm, acquired Paragon. The deal also reportedly included a merger with cybersecurity firm REDLattice.

When TechCrunch contacted Paragon in September regarding its contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a spokesperson referred questions to REDLattice’s Vice President of Marketing, Jennifer Iras, suggesting the merger may have been completed.

Neither Paragon nor WhatsApp responded to requests for comment regarding the latest developments.