Italy is facing a significant press freedom crisis following the targeting of investigative journalists with sophisticated spyware. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has raised alarms over these incidents, urging Italian authorities to conduct thorough investigations.
Spyware Attacks on Journalists
In early 2025, Francesco Cancellato, editor-in-chief of Fanpage.it, received a notification from WhatsApp informing him that his phone had been targeted with Graphite spyware, developed by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions. This spyware is designed for government use to combat crime and is not intended for targeting journalists. Cancellato’s investigative work, including exposing far-right elements within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, may have made him a target.
A few months later, Ciro Pellegrino, another investigative journalist at Fanpage.it, received a similar warning from Apple about a mercenary spyware attack on his device. This makes Pellegrino the sixth individual in Italy, including activists and clergy, to be allegedly targeted by spyware believed to be used by state actors.
Calls for Investigation and Accountability
The CPJ’s Europe representative, Attila Mong, condemned these attacks as a “pattern of surveillance aimed at intimidating and silencing investigative reporting,” urging Italian authorities to investigate and ensure journalists can work without fear.
In response, the Rome prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the unauthorized surveillance of journalists and activists. However, leaks suggest that spyware surveillance was approved by the government for some migrant rights activists, raising questions about the extent of state involvement.
International Concerns and Legal Actions
International organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have called for transparency and accountability from the Italian government regarding the use of spyware against journalists. RSF emphasized the need for clear answers about how and why Graphite was used on national territory.
The Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (FNSI), Italy’s national journalists’ union, has filed a legal complaint in Rome over the allegations, seeking clarification about the wiretapping of journalists. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) support this initiative and urge the Italian government to shed full light on the spying scandal.
Conclusion
The targeting of journalists with spyware in Italy represents a serious threat to press freedom and the protection of journalistic sources. The international community and press freedom organizations are closely monitoring the situation, calling for transparency and accountability to uphold democratic values and the rights of journalists.
