For years, spyware makers have claimed their tools are designed only for combating terrorism and serious crime. However, mounting evidence shows that these surveillance technologies are being used far beyond their intended scope.
The latest case involves an Italian political consultant working with left-wing politicians, recently confirmed as a victim of Paragon spyware. This adds to a growing list of journalists, human rights defenders, and political opponents targeted by government-grade spyware in both democratic and authoritarian nations.
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Experts say the issue lies in the spyware’s design and deployment model. Governments pay for access based on the number of simultaneous targets, often allowing widespread surveillance. “Because targeting is so easy, we’ve seen governments spy on relatively minor political opponents and journalists,” said Eva Galperin, Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
The ease of targeting, combined with a lack of oversight, has turned spyware into a tool of political control. Countries like Morocco, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have been repeatedly linked to such abuses. Researchers warn that systems like NSO’s Pegasus or Paragon’s Graphite make surveillance as simple as typing in a phone number.
While some companies, including Paragon and NSO Group, have claimed to cut off abusive clients, experts remain skeptical. Governments in Greece and Poland have launched investigations, and the U.S. has imposed sanctions on several spyware firms. Still, with billions at stake, analysts warn that the global spyware market continues to thrive, often at the expense of privacy, democracy, and human rights.
