Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace
Member of the Ansar Allah Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti: The Israeli aggression on Yemen will not deter us from continuing to support Gaza, no matter the sacrifices
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli aggression targeted the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street, southwest of the capital, Sanaa, with several raids

Italian gov. under scrutiny as Israeli spyware targets journalists

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 12 Jun 2025 18:57
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

A growing surveillance scandal in Italy reveals military-grade Israeli spyware used against journalists critical of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.

Listen
  • x
  • European journalists targeted with Paragon: Citizen Lab
    Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference in Rome on January 9, 2025. (AP)

The hacking scandal troubling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government has intensified, as new findings reveal that two more journalists were targeted with military-grade spyware, The Guardian reported.

Earlier this month, a parliamentary intelligence committee confirmed that Italy had used Israeli-made Paragon Solutions spyware against two activists.

However, the same committee said it could not identify who was behind the surveillance of Francesco Cancellato, a prominent investigative journalist critical of the Meloni government.

Now, researchers at Citizen Lab have uncovered that Ciro Pellegrino, Cancellato’s colleague and head of Fanpage.it’s Naples bureau, was also targeted with Paragon’s spyware, Graphite.

Prominent European journalist targeted with Israeli spyware

A third individual, described as a “prominent European journalist,” was also reportedly targeted, further deepening the mystery and raising concerns about press freedom and government surveillance.
 
Tensions between the Italian government and Israeli spyware firm Paragon are escalating amid a growing surveillance scandal. According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Paragon recently offered to assist Italy in investigating the targeting of journalist Francesco Cancellato, but the offer was reportedly rejected by Italy's security intelligence department over national security concerns.

The controversy has sparked outrage among Italian opposition parties and members of the European Parliament, prompting a scheduled debate on the issue in Brussels on 16 June.

Related News

Italian journalist hit by Israeli spyware after unmasking fascists

Italian government, Paragon part ways

When approached by The Guardian about the latest revelations, Paragon referred to previous comments made to Haaretz, where it confirmed it had terminated its contract with the Italian government following the initial reports in February about Cancellato’s surveillance—first reported by The Guardian.

Paragon has stated that it only sells its spyware to democratic countries and claims that its terms of service prohibit agencies from using it against journalists or members of civil society.

The issue of who is responsible for targeting the two journalists remains unanswered.

John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, stated, “We found that both journalists’ phones bore Paragon’s unmistakable digital fingerprints. Making matters even more interesting, we found fingerprints matching the same Paragon customer in both cases.”

COPASIR report details limited use

A recent report from the parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence operations, COPASIR, confirmed that Italy's intelligence services had initially suspended and later canceled their agreements with Paragon. According to the report, the domestic and foreign intelligence agencies had entered into contracts with Paragon in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The spyware was reportedly used on a limited number of targets and only under judicial authorization. The foreign intelligence agency deployed the software to pursue individuals involved in criminal and national security-related activities, including fuel smuggling, counter-espionage, and alleged terrorism.

The COPASIR report stated that surveillance of Mediterranea members was not conducted due to their human rights activism but rather in relation to their alleged ties to irregular immigration. This operation, it added, was conducted with government authorization.

Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, the government’s intelligence coordinator, approved the surveillance of Mediterranea activists Luca Casarini and Beppe Caccia on 5 September 2024.

The report also addressed claims made by journalist Francesco Cancellato, editor of the investigative news site Fanpage, who had alleged he was targeted using Paragon spyware. COPASIR stated that no evidence was found to support this claim.

  • Giorgia Meloni
  • Italy
  • Israel
  • European Union
  • Europe
  • paragon
  • Paragon Solutions
  • Citizen Lab

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS