Several European journalists accuse Paragon Solutions, an Israeli IT security firm, of spying on them using military-grade spyware called Graphite. This spyware, initially sold to democratic governments for crime prevention, allegedly targeted investigative reporters who were critical of political powers. The case raises serious questions about surveillance, press freedom, and the misuse of cybersecurity tools.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Researchers from the Citizen Lab revealed that Italian investigative reporters Francesco Cancellato and Ciro Pellegrino, both journalists, fell victim to Paragon’s spyware. Cancellato is known for critical coverage of the right-wing Meloni government in Italy, while Pellegrino heads the Naples bureau of Fanpage.it, a major online news outlet.
A third, unnamed prominent European journalist also reportedly faced attacks using the same spyware. Citizen Lab researchers identified Paragon’s unique digital fingerprint on the victims’ phones. Senior researcher John Scott-Railton emphasized the troubling pattern, noting the involvement of the same Paragon customer in both Italian cases.
This disclosure deepens the ongoing scandal involving the Italian government’s use of Paragon’s tools. Italy’s parliamentary intelligence committee confirmed earlier use of Paragon spyware against activists, including those connected to immigration issues. However, the committee was unable to determine who specifically targeted the journalists.
Paragon and the Italian government recently engaged in public disputes. Paragon offered to assist in investigating the Cancellato case but was reportedly rebuffed by Italian security authorities, citing national security concerns.
The revelations have initiated a wave of outrage among Italian opposition parties and European Parliament members. A debate on this surveillance controversy is scheduled at the European Parliament on June 16, underscoring the issue’s political weight.
Paragon claims it only sells spyware to democratic countries and prohibits use against journalists or civil society members. However, the spyware’s misuse against reporters challenges the effectiveness of these safeguards.
Italy’s parliamentary report revealed that both domestic and foreign intelligence agencies held contracts with Paragon in 2023 and 2024. The spyware was authorized for limited purposes, including counterterrorism, crime investigations, and anti-smuggling efforts. The human rights activists targeted were monitored due to immigration connections, not activism.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The Paragon spyware scandal exposes vulnerabilities in safeguarding journalists from digital surveillance by governments using advanced IT tools. Press freedom advocates and lawmakers are demanding stronger oversight and clearer rules on the use of spyware.
As the European Parliament prepares to discuss these findings, there is increased pressure on governments and cybersecurity companies to ensure accountability and prevent abuse.
Protecting journalists and civil society from intrusive surveillance is crucial for maintaining democracy and upholding human rights in the digital age.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech