Italy is grappling with a major WhatsApp hacking scandal while the messaging app marks a big milestone in the European Union. These two events are putting WhatsApp, owned by Meta, under intense scrutiny over privacy and security.
Over in Italy, a bunch of media organizations aren’t messing around. They’ve gone straight to the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office with a criminal complaint. According to Bloomberg (via Engadget), they’re furious about the hack, claiming it let spyware snoop on journalists and activists, putting their work and sources in danger.
WhatsApp revealed the zero-click hack used malicious PDF files sent to group chats in December. The company has notified victims privately and released a security fix. Three Italian victims have publicly identified themselves, including journalist Francesco Cancellato and activists Beppe Caccia and Luca Casarini.
The country’s cybersecurity team is still digging into what happened and how bad it got. The scandal is increasing pressure on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government. While officials deny involvement, Cabinet Minister Luca Ciriani confirmed an ongoing intelligence contract with Paragon Solutions, the Israeli-founded company that created the spyware.
Apart from that, there’s also this new EU status WhatsApp has earned. Apparently, it’s now a Very Large Online Platform, or VLOP for short. This means they’ve got to play by some strict rules, like being way more open about how they moderate content and cracking down on anything illegal floating around on the app.
The platform has four months to sort it all out once the label is official. Meanwhile, Telegram, one of their big rivals, isn’t dealing with the same headache yet since it hasn’t hit the same user numbers.
That said, as Meta scrambles to do damage control and meet new VLOP standards, many are likely left doubting the privacy of their chats. If Meta doesn’t bolster WhatsApp’s defenses, they risk steep fines and a bruised reputation, possibly driving some to switch to apps like Signal for better protection.
Dwayne Cubbins
650 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
Follow Us
