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
Lebanese Health Ministry: 1 woman martyred, 11 wounded in Israeli strike on residential apartment in Nabatieh, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Four civilians injured in Israeli strike that targeted house in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch strikes on regions of al-Mahmoudiyah, al-Khardali
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli aircraft execute series of strikes in Kfar Tibnit, South Lebanon.
Iranian ambassador in Beijing to Al Mayadeen: We hope that Europe and the US give up their illegal actions and authoritarian hegemony.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli shelling targets displaced persons' tent in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, casualties were reported
IOF storm Jalazone camp, north of Al Bireh city in the occupied West Bank
Israeli media: A severe incident reported in Gaza some time ago
Israeli media: Military evacuation helicopters are transporting injured soldiers from Khan Younis
Israeli media: A security incident has been reported in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip

Italian journalist hit by Israeli spyware after unmasking fascists

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 1 Feb 2025 08:10
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Journalist Francesco Cancellato reveals being targeted after WhatsApp disclosed that 90 journalists and civil society members were affected.

Listen
  • x
  • WhatsApp messaging service (AFP  via Getty Images)
    WhatsApp messaging service (AFP via Getty Images)

An Italian investigative journalist known for uncovering young fascists within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party was targeted by spyware developed by "Israel"-based Paragon Solutions, according to a notification he received from the application.

Francesco Cancellato, editor-in-chief of the investigative news outlet Fanpage, became the first to publicly disclose being targeted after WhatsApp announced on Friday that “90 journalists and other members of civil society” had been affected.

Like many others whose identities remain unknown, Cancellato confirmed receiving the alert from the messaging platform on Friday afternoon.

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has not revealed the identities or locations of those targeted but stated that they are spread across “more than two dozen countries, including in Europe.”

Driving the news

Related News

Italian gov. under scrutiny as Israeli spyware targets journalists

WhatsApp revealed that it had identified Paragon targeting its users in December and swiftly shut down the method used to “possibly compromise” individuals. Like other spyware manufacturers, Paragon sells its surveillance tool, known as Graphite, to government agencies, which are expected to deploy it for crime prevention and security purposes.

The spyware was reportedly delivered by adding targets to group chats without their consent and sending them malware through PDFs. Paragon’s technology is classified as no-click spyware, meaning a user does not need to interact with any link or attachment for their device to be infected—it is installed remotely.

It remains unclear how long Francesco Cancellato may have been under surveillance. However, last year, he published a major investigative report exposing how members of the youth wing of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party engaged in "fascist chants, Nazi salutes, and antisemitic rhetoric."

Although Cancellato was not personally involved in the undercover operation, Fanpage reporters infiltrated online groups and forums used by members of National Youth, the youth branch of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party. The outlet released footage in May showing members chanting “Duce” in reference to Benito Mussolini, shouting “sieg Heil,” and boasting about familial ties to figures associated with neo-fascist terrorism.

Cancellato, 45, told The Guardian that he had no reason to suspect in December that his phone had been compromised, and had never been informed by authorities that he was under investigation. He described the news as a “violation.”

“We just began the technical analysis on the device in order to evaluate the actual extent of this attack, what was actually taken or spied on, and for how long. Obviously, it is also in our interest to know, if it’s possible to do so, who ordered this espionage activity,” he told The Guardian.

The revelations sparked criticism of Meloni’s party both in Italy and at the European level.

  • Paragon Solutions
  • Italy
  • Israel
  • Francesco Cancellato
  • Israeli occupation
  • Israeli spyware
  • Italian journalist

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen delivers her speech during the French far-right party national rally near the parliament in Paris, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Politics

US aide proposed funding Le Pen's legal fight, sparking uproar

People whose names were left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft fill their forms to file appeals near a NRC center on the outskirts of Gauhati, India, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

India accused of illegal Muslim deportations to Bangladesh

Palestinians children mourn over the body of their father, Mohammed Ghaben, who was killed while heading to an aid distribution hub, at the morgue of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP)
Politics

IOF troops admit to killing starving Palestinians: Israeli media

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

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