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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

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

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

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