Amnesty International has raised alarm over the widespread use of Paragon Solutions’ Graphite spyware to target journalists and human rights activists across Europe, urging immediate regulatory action to safeguard civil liberties. This follows a report by Citizen Lab, which uncovered a growing spyware crisis, raising serious concerns about privacy, surveillance, and government accountability.
Graphite spyware, designed to infiltrate devices through messaging applications, makes detection difficult, increasing risks for civil society members. While Paragon Solutions claims its spyware is meant for countering terrorism and serious crimes, the increasing number of reports implicating it in violations of privacy casts doubt on these assertions. The spyware has been particularly active in Italy, with Italian journalists and human rights defenders reporting infections. Notably, David Yambio, the founder of Refugees in Libya, was targeted while sharing sensitive information with the International Criminal Court.
Amnesty International condemned the misuse of surveillance technologies, emphasizing that unchecked spyware use threatens democracy, freedom of speech, and press freedoms. The organization has called on European governments to strengthen legal frameworks to regulate spyware use, preventing abuses against civil society.
The European Parliament is under increasing pressure to investigate these spyware incidents, with several Members of Parliament (MEPs) demanding greater accountability from governments involved. New regulations are being considered to curb the misuse of surveillance tools and ensure digital rights protection.
In response, Paragon Solutions has defended its product, asserting that it only sells spyware to government clients that follow international norms and respect human rights. However, the ongoing abuse of Graphite against journalists and activists raises significant ethical and legal concerns, underscoring the urgent need for regulatory reform.
As spyware continues to be weaponized against civil society, the call for robust safeguards to protect privacy and prevent the erosion of press freedom has never been more critical.
Excerpts from Sandy Almarradweh article, Jurist, U. Ottawa Faculty of Law
