WhatsApp calls on Israel to stop spying

On Friday, a WhatsApp official called on the Israeli spyware firm, Paragon Solutions, to stop targeting user data, particularly that of journalists and civil society members across the globe.

The official, representing Meta-owned WhatsApp, disclosed that the platform had sent a formal letter to Paragon Solutions, demanding an immediate halt to these hacking activities. The official reiterated WhatsApp’s commitment to safeguarding users’ right to private communication.

In a conversation with Reuters, the official shared that WhatsApp had identified an attempted breach targeting approximately 90 users. However, the specific identities and locations of these individuals were not revealed.

Among the targets were an undisclosed number of civil society activists and media professionals. WhatsApp confirmed that it had successfully thwarted the intrusion attempt.

When questioned about how WhatsApp attributed the attack to Paragon, the official declined to elaborate, only confirming that law enforcement and industry partners had been informed. No additional details were provided.

As of now, Paragon Solutions has not issued any statement regarding the allegations.