Italy Spyware: Widespread Illegal Use Revealed
- Amnesty International is pressing Italian authorities for answers after journalist Ciro Pellegrino became the latest reported target of Graphite spyware.
- Elina Castillo Jiménez, an advocacy and policy adviser at Amnesty International, said the targeting of Pellegrino underscores a "rampant widening and systemic pattern of spyware abuse" in Italy...
- The italian Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (COPASIR) previously confirmed that Italian intelligence services used Graphite spyware, justifying it on national security grounds.
Italian authorities face scrutiny as Amnesty International demands answers regarding the use of Graphite spyware. News reveals journalist Ciro Pellegrino, among others, targeted by the surveillance technology, sparking concerns about the wider illegal use of spyware in Italy. The revelation underscores a pattern of abuse,challenging Italy’s commitment to international norms and freedom of expression; raising questions about national security justification. The Italian Parliamentary Committee’s previous confirmation of Graphite’s use, alongside denials of targeting specific journalists, further fuels the debate. Paragon’s abrupt contract cancellation adds another layer of complexity to this unfolding situation, particularly as authorities haven’t verified prior targeting allegations. This detailed report comes to you from News Directory 3. Discover what’s next as the inquiry continues.
Italian Journalist Targeted by Graphite Spyware; Amnesty Calls for answers
Updated June 13, 2025
Amnesty International is pressing Italian authorities for answers after journalist Ciro Pellegrino became the latest reported target of Graphite spyware. The call follows a Citizen Lab report identifying Pellegrino, who works for Fanpage, and another anonymous individual as victims of the surveillance technology.
Elina Castillo Jiménez, an advocacy and policy adviser at Amnesty International, said the targeting of Pellegrino underscores a “rampant widening and systemic pattern of spyware abuse” in Italy and Europe. The use of spyware raises concerns about Italy’s commitment to international norms and freedom of expression.
The italian Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (COPASIR) previously confirmed that Italian intelligence services used Graphite spyware, justifying it on national security grounds. However, the committee denied targeting journalist Francesco Cancellato.The new revelation about Pellegrino has renewed scrutiny.
Several italian journalists and human rights advocates have been targeted with Paragon’s Graphite spyware, including Cancellato, Luca Casarini, Giuseppe Caccia, and David Yambio.
after the parliamentary committee’s report, Paragon reportedly canceled its contract with Italy as authorities declined to verify if Graphite spyware targeted Cancellato. COPASIR has denied knowledge of Paragon’s offer to investigate.
“We urge Italian authorities to fully disclose the details of these targeting operations and to facilitate pathways for reparation to the victims. When governments fail to respond adequately to credible allegations of surveillance abuse, they send a dangerous message that impunity is the norm,” Jiménez said.
what’s next
Amnesty International continues to urge Italian authorities to disclose details of surveillance operations and provide reparations to victims, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the use of spyware.