Italy’s national journalists’ union, the Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (FNSI), alongside the Order of Journalists (Odg), initiated legal proceedings against unknown individuals, urging the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate allegations of unlawful surveillance involving the Israeli-developed spyware, Graphite, produced by Paragon Solutions.
The controversy emerged when investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato, editor-in-chief of the Italian news outlet Fanpage, reported that his WhatsApp account had been compromised using Graphite, a military-grade spyware typically employed by state entities. WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, confirmed that at least seven Italian mobile phones had been targeted, including those of Cancellato and activist Luca Casarini.
The Italian government has denied any involvement in the surveillance of journalists and activists. However, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have expressed grave concern over the incident, emphasizing the need for full transparency and accountability.
The FNSI and Odg’s legal action seeks to ascertain the identities of those responsible for the surveillance, the extent of the data accessed, and the legal justifications for such actions. The case has sparked a broader debate about the balance between national security and press freedom, with implications for democratic oversight and the protection of journalists’ rights in Italy and across the European Union.
As the investigation progresses, the international community continues to monitor developments, underscoring the importance of safeguarding journalistic independence and ensuring that state surveillance measures are not misused to target individuals for their professional activities.
