Source: European Parliament
During the LIBE Committee meeting on 8 April, Members will engage in discussions with representatives from the European Commission, WhatsApp, and those impacted by the Paragon spyware attack. The debates are organised after a number of journalists and civil society members were seemingly targeted by spyware developed by the surveillance technology company Paragon Solutions.
The spyware, reportedly used by government clients, was designed to infiltrate encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal. According to WhatsApp, a potential breach was detected, and evidence suggests that several individuals’ devices were compromised. While it remains unclear who orchestrated the attacks, WhatsApp has taken legal action against Paragon Solutions.
In the past, the European Parliament has been very active scrutinising the use of spyware. The Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA), established in March 2022, investigated the misuse of Pegasus spyware in the EU. Its 2023 report led the European Parliament to recommend stronger legal enforcement, election security, and spyware export controls. During the previous term, the LIBE Committee organised Exchanges of Views to follow up on the findings of the PEGA Committee.