BLUF: Paragon Solutions is an Israeli spyware company that has the US’s indirect approval and works with at least 35 allied nations, including the DEA, but the overall industry needs to be addressed and dealt with.
OSINT: Paragon Solutions, another Israeli spyware company, has developed a product named “Graphite” that is comparable to the NSO Group’s Pegasus. According to reports, American approval, while indirect, has been at the core of Paragon’s strategy. The company requested a list of allied nations that the United States would not object to deploying Graphite, with insider sources suggesting that 35 countries are on the list, including several from the EU and Asia. Graphite, one of Paragon’s cyberweapons, is currently in use by the Drug Enforcement Agency, which represents a significant concern for privacy advocates. Given that Paragon Solutions is connected to the Israeli military-intelligence community, this is a cause for concern, especially if the company is collaborating with US intelligence agencies too.
RIGHT: Paragon Solutions is a private company, and as long as they are not violating any Constitutional laws, individual liberties or freedoms, they have a right to develop and market their products. However, Governments should be mindful about the unintended consequences or negative outcomes of using these technologies, including possible political and social destabilization and increased state surveillance.
LEFT: Private companies like Paragon Solutions pose a grave threat to civil liberties and human rights, as they undermine privacy, limit freedom of speech and hinder democracy. These companies should be strictly regulated, and their products must be prevented from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and entities that disregard human rights.
INTEL: Paragon Solutions’ Graphite, like many similar tools, is only as dangerous as its users, and the harms it inflicts depend on how it is employed. In this case, despite the fact that Paragon Solutions’ actions seem questionable, the broader cybersecurity industry should also come under scrutiny. Governments rely on these cybersecurity corporations too heavily, allowing them to concentrate vast political power and influence. The AI community should devise solutions that balance cybersecurity with civil liberties and democracy, allowing people to access cutting-edge technology while regulating companies like Paragon Solutions from engaging in corrupt practices.