WhatsApp has alleged that surveillance software developed by Israeli firm Paragon is being used to target its users, referring affected individuals to Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab.
While declining to specify the exact targets, a WhatsApp official confirmed to Reuters that the company had “high confidence” the users in question had been targeted and “possibly compromised.”
The official, however, did not elaborate on how the Meta-owned platform determined Paragon’s involvement. Law enforcement agencies and industry partners have been informed, but no further details were provided.
Paragon, which has built a reputation as a provider of high-end surveillance software to government clients, declined to comment on the allegations.
Citizen Lab researcher John Scott-Railton described the discovery as a “reminder that mercenary spyware continues to proliferate.” Spy tools of this nature, which grant remote access to mobile devices without users’ knowledge, have previously been found on the phones of journalists, activists, and at least 50 US officials.
The revelation adds to growing concerns over the unchecked expansion of the commercial spyware industry. Israeli-made Pegasus spyware, developed by NSO Group, has been linked to several surveillance cases worldwide, with reports indicating its use against journalists, activists, and political figures.
Paragon, co-founded by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, was reportedly acquired by US private equity firm AE Industrial Partners for $900 million in 2024. The company’s website claims to offer “ethically based tools” aimed at countering global threats.
However, Natalia Krapiva, senior tech-legal counsel at digital rights advocacy group Access Now, questioned these claims. “Paragon had the reputation of being a more responsible spyware company, but WhatsApp’s recent revelations suggest otherwise,” she told Reuters.
WhatsApp, in a statement, reiterated its commitment to protecting user privacy. “We will continue to protect people’s ability to communicate privately,” the company said.
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