European Investment Fund defends past support for spyware-linked Paragon

The European Investment Fund has defended a past investment that indirectly reached Israeli company Paragon Solutions, after renewed scrutiny over spyware use against journalists and civil society figures.

The fund said the financing met its eligibility criteria.

Gauthier Monjanel, an adviser to the fund's chief executive, told lawmakers in the European Parliament's civil liberties committee on Thursday that the EIF continues to support cyber security because it sees it as important for protecting citizens.

He said the company had developed lawful interception technology focused on law enforcement.

Monjanel added that any illegal use of the technology remains unacceptable.

The comments came after reporting linked the fund's money trail to Paragon and prompted criticism from civil rights defenders.

The issue matters because spyware funding has become a wider policy and accountability dispute inside the EU.

Concerns have intensified after allegations that Paragon's Graphite spyware was used in Italy against two immigration activists and a journalist in 2024.

WhatsApp later said the same spyware had targeted 90 journalists around the world.

#EuropeanInvestmentFund #ParagonSolutions #spyware #EuropeanParliament #civilliberties