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February 10, 2025 – Italy –
Italian investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato is, editor-in-chief of Fanpage.It, became the latest target of an alarming spyware campaign that has raised serious concerns about press freedom and digital security. WhatsApp alerted Cancellato that his phone had been compromised by Graphite spyware, developed by Israeli company Paragon Solutions. This spyware is especially dangerous because it can infiltrate devices remotely without any interaction from the user, known as a “zero-click” attack.
Cancellato is among nearly 90 individuals worldwide targeted in this campaign, including other journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. The attackers exploited WhatsApp group chats by sending malicious PDF files, enabling the spyware to silently access phones and extract sensitive information. The scale and sophistication of this spyware attack highlight the increasing risks journalists face in the digital age.
The Italian government has denied any involvement in the surveillance activities. Nevertheless, Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency launched an investigation following public outcry. Meanwhile, Paragon Solutions has terminated its contract with Italy after learning the spyware was used improperly, violating the company’s terms of service. Despite official denials, this incident has fueled worries about potential misuse of spyware by state or non-state actors against journalists, which undermines democratic freedoms.
Press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have condemned the targeting of Cancellato. They have called for a full and transparent inquiry to hold those responsible accountable and to prevent further abuses. The case also stresses the urgent need for stronger protections for journalists and enhanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard their communications and privacy.
This episode serves as a stark reminder of the dangers facing investigative journalists worldwide who expose abuses and hold power to account. In an era where digital surveillance tools grow ever more sophisticated, defending press freedom increasingly means defending digital security as well.
Reference –
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/31/italian-journalist-whatsapp-israeli-spyware
Italian investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato targeted with Paragon spyware
