ROME: Italy’s government is facing growing outrage after revelations that an Israeli-made spyware tool was used to monitor journalists, migrant rescue activists, and civil society figures—raising serious concerns about abuse of surveillance powers and the erosion of press freedom. This is a second spy scandal in Italy, in 2024 Calamucci and associates were arrested for running an illegal espionage mercenary ring.
The spyware, known as Graphite, was developed by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions and reportedly deployed by Italy’s domestic and foreign intelligence agencies, AISI and AISE, under judicial authorization. While officials insist the spyware was used legally to counter threats such as terrorism and irregular migration, critics argue the state crossed a dangerous line.
Tracked Without Knowing
The scandal broke in January when Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, sent warnings to users globally, including seven individuals in Italy, indicating they may have been targeted by state-sponsored spyware. Among those notified were prominent journalist Francesco Cancellato, editor-in-chief of Fanpage.it, and several members of the Mediterranea Saving Humans NGO, including Luca Casarini, Giuseppe Caccia, and Father Mattia Ferrari, a Catholic priest active in migrant rescue missions.
Independent forensic analysis by Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity watchdog at the University of Toronto, confirmed the presence of Graphite on several Android phones linked to those figures.
“It’s not about me,” said Cancellato. “It’s about the principle. If the state can surveil a journalist without any public explanation, we have a democratic problem.”
Government Response: ‘Within the Law’
Parliament’s intelligence oversight committee, COPASIR, issued a partial report last week confirming that Italy’s intelligence services held contracts with Paragon between 2023 and 2024, before suspending operations in February 2025 and terminating the contract entirely on June 9.
Government officials insist the spyware was used legally. Surveillance of Mediterranea personnel was justified, they argue, not because of their humanitarian work, but due to suspected involvement in facilitating illegal immigration.
“All actions were authorized by judicial authorities and subject to strict controls,” said Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, who signed off on the monitoring. “This was not a campaign against civil society. It was about safeguarding national interests.”
But critics are not convinced. Alessandra Costante, secretary general of Italy’s National Federation of the Press (FNSI), warned that journalists are being swept up in surveillance meant for criminals.
“Press freedom is one of the pillars of our Constitution,” she said. “Was Francesco Cancellato the only journalist targeted? We don’t think so.”
The Spyware Maker Backs Out
Paragon Solutions, founded in 2019 by Israeli cybersecurity veterans including former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, had marketed Graphite as a “more ethical” alternative to Pegasus, the notorious spyware developed by NSO Group. After the Italian surveillance came to light, Paragon suspended its cooperation with Rome and later cancelled the contract, citing ethical violations.
A company spokesperson said: “When we discovered that ethical guidelines may have been breached, we took immediate action. We have no further comment on client operations.”
Unanswered Questions
Although COPASIR reported no signs of surveillance targeting Cancellato directly by Italian services, doubts linger about whether another foreign entity may have conducted the operation—or whether Italian agencies kept it off official logs.
John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, told The Guardian:
“Because Francesco Cancellato’s case remains completely unexplained, all eyes are back on Paragon for an answer.”
Meanwhile, Apple confirmed that another journalist, Ciro Pellegrino, also received a spyware alert in April, making it unlikely that Cancellato was an isolated case.
Democracy in the Crosshairs
The Italian Parliament is now facing mounting pressure to strengthen legal safeguards on spyware usage and increase transparency. Opposition lawmakers have called for a full public inquiry, while privacy watchdogs demand accountability from both Italian and Israeli authorities.
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called the case “deeply troubling” and warned of the chilling effects on civic life.
“The Paragon scandal cannot simply be brushed aside,” Renzi said. “Those responsible must be held accountable.”
As Italy prepares to receive COPASIR’s final findings later this month, questions persist: Who authorized the spyware? Who was targeted? And can Italy protect its democratic institutions from the very tools designed to defend them?
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