Cyber ​​attack on WhatsApp: Europe's journalists in the crosshairs!

Cyber ​​attack on WhatsApp: Europe's journalists in the crosshairs!

An alarming cyberattack on the popular messaging service WhatsApp has drawn attention to the dangers of surveillance by spy software. According to OTS reports, telephone numbers from 14 EU countries are affected, including Austria. The incident was caused by spy software from the company Paragon, which particularly targeted journalists and human rights activists. The Green Party's internet policy spokesman, Süleyman Zorba, calls for a thorough investigation into the attack and criticizes the repeated use of such software to monitor critical voices in society. “Such attacks are a serious threat to our basic democratic rights,” said Zorba. Seven confirmed cases have already been reported in Italy, which increases the urgency of taking measures in Austria to ensure the safety of citizens.

The threat of surveillance software

Pegasus surveillance software, developed by NSO Group, raises similar concerns. Amnesty International has conducted extensive investigations into the Pegasus project and found that the technology is being used to target journalists, politicians and human rights defenders. Agnès Callamard from Amnesty emphasizes that the use of such software represents a widespread violation of human rights. “Until these companies demonstrate that they are capable of respecting human rights, a moratorium on their use must be introduced,” explains Callamard. Their analysis identified hundreds of journalists around the world who were potentially targeted by such attacks, further increasing concerns about the misuse of surveillance technology.

The significance of these events cannot be underestimated. The revelations show how surveillance software is being used as a tool to intimidate and control critical voices. The national cybersecurity authority in Italy has already initiated investigations, and in Austria it must now also be checked whether domestic journalists or activists are affected. “It cannot be the case that journalists in Europe become the target of state surveillance or illegal espionage,” warned Zorba. The related surveillance software scandals raise serious questions about the regulation and responsibility of the companies that provide such technologies.

For more information about the role and risks of these technologies, see OTS and Amnesty International's extensive documentation of the Pegasus Project Amnesty.