The Israeli spyware company is said to have reduced access to its customers in Italy after allegations that its product was used to target critics of the Italian government.
The move comes after WhatsApp claimed last week that spyware made by Paragon Solutions was used to target 90 WhatsApp users in twenty countries, including journalists and civil society members.
The Italy government confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that seven mobile phones in the country have targeted the WhatsApp spyware, and described the incident as “especially dangerous.”
The office of Prime Minister Georgia Miloni denied any involvement and request from the National Cyber Security Agency in Italy looking at the matter.
BBC contacted Paragon Solutions and the Italian government to comment.
Three of those who were alleged to be targeted in Italy: Francesco Canello, Journalist Investigation, Hosam El Gaunte, who is selected in Italy's involvement in Libya, Luka Kasarini, founder of an Italian NGO assisting immigrants.
According to reports in Guardian and HaritzParaguce now ended her relationship with her clients in Italy. These clients are said to include an intelligence agency and the law enforcement agency.
Paragon Solutions operate exclusively with state bodies. Its pioneering product is known as graphite, and enables users to completely access to a targeted phone. She says the product aims to use it to combat crime.
The company is seen as a NSO group competitor, which manufactures spyware Pegasus.
WhatsApp for the first time reported the alleged spyware campaign last week.
A PBC News spokesman told “a spyware campaign … targeted a number of users, including journalists and civil society members.”
“This is the latest example of the reason for the responsibility of spy programs,” the statement added. “WhatsApp will continue to protect people's ability to communicate in particular.”
The identities of other individuals who are allegedly targeted in the spyware campaign are not yet general.
Italy has said that WhatsApp have told those who target phone numbers with countries including Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Belgium, Latvia, Litwania, Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
A spokesman for WhatsApp told Reuters that targeted individuals have been sent harmful documents that do not require any interaction from the user in order to bargain over their devices, which is called zero clicking.
