unauthorized_surveillance: David Yambio targeted in spyware attack — WhatsApp

Summary

David Yambio, an Italy‑based human rights activist and co‑founder of Refugees in Libya, revealed that Apple informed him his iPhone was targeted in a spyware attack on 13 November 2024. Yambio, a former detainee in a Libyan prison and critic of Italy’s migrant policy, was not among the 90 people notified by WhatsApp in late January about similar spyware attacks. The spyware is believed to be produced by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli cyber‑weapons company, which terminated its contract with Italy over alleged violations. Yambio sought help from CyberHub‑AM and the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, which is investigating the incident. The Italian government denied involvement in the alleged breaches, and Yambio has criticized the Italy‑Libya migrant pact for enabling abuses against migrants. The incident raises concerns about witness protection and digital surveillance in the context of international criminal court cases.