Paragon Probe: Rome Prosecutor Investigates Alleged Illegal Taps
- the use of elegant spyware, like Graphite, has raised serious concerns about surveillance and privacy, notably regarding journalists and activists.
- Following reports that Fanpage.it director Francesco Cancellato and numerous activists were spied on, the Roma prosecutor has opened an examination into the Paragon case.
- the Roma prosecutor aims too clarify the Paragon case, which involves the use of Graphite software (developed by Paragon) to spy on numerous activists, Luca Casarini, founder of...
Italian Journalists Targeted by Graphite Spyware: Investigations Deepen
Table of Contents
- Italian Journalists Targeted by Graphite Spyware: Investigations Deepen
- Graphite Spyware Scandal in Italy: Unpacking teh Allegations and Investigations
- What is the Graphite Spyware Scandal in Italy?
- What is Graphite Spyware and What are its Capabilities?
- Who are the Key Individuals Targeted in the Graphite Spyware scandal?
- What Investigations are Currently Underway Regarding the Paragon Spyware Case?
- What is the italian Government’s Response to the Allegations?
- What is the Controversy Surrounding the government’s Use of State Secrets?
- What Did the International Press Report About the Paragon Case in Italy?
- What is the Stance of the Committee to Protect Journalists?
- Are Interceptions Always Considered Legitimate in Italy?
- What is the Possibility of External Agency Involvement?
- Key Events Timeline
the use of elegant spyware, like Graphite, has raised serious concerns about surveillance and privacy, notably regarding journalists and activists. Multiple investigations are now underway in Italy following revelations of alleged espionage.
Roma Prosecutor Opens Inquiry into Paragon Spyware case
Following reports that Fanpage.it director Francesco Cancellato and numerous activists were spied on, the Roma prosecutor has opened an examination into the Paragon case. This marks the fourth such inquiry, joining those in Napoli, Bologna, and Palermo. The alleged crime under investigation is illegal interception, and the case file is currently against unknown individuals.
the Roma prosecutor aims too clarify the Paragon case, which involves the use of Graphite software (developed by Paragon) to spy on numerous activists, Luca Casarini, founder of Mediterranea Saving Humans, Don Mattia Ferrari, the chaplain of the NGO, and Francesco Cancellato, director of Fanpage.it. The case has already been the subject of numerous complaints by those involved. In this instance, the National Federation of the Press prompted the opening of the file for illegal interceptions.
Multiple Investigations Underway
To date, investigations have also been launched by the prosecutors of Napoli, Bologna, and Palermo. Investigators will work, including through technical assessments by the Postal Police, to reconstruct who carried out the espionage, who authorized it, and with what motivations. Currently,the file is against unknown persons. This is unavoidable in a case that has so far raised many questions and received very few answers from the competent authorities.
Just recently, the meloni government announced that it does not intend to respond to a new parliamentary question presented by Alleanza Verdi-Sinistra. The executive branch has not provided any official reason for this refusal.
So far,the government has implied that the matter is covered by state secret,but the question specifically concerned this aspect: Avs simply wanted to know the level of secrecy imposed and which administration signed the act that officially covers the issue with state secret. However, the government has refused to provide answers on this as well.
Up to this point, it has only been possible to identify who would not be responsible, according to official statements. The Meloni government has repeatedly exonerated the intelligence services, stating that they did not spy on journalists or other subjects protected by law. Each of the police forces, in a more or less public manner, has denied using Paragon’s software. The latest was the Penitentiary Police, of which the minister Nordio in the Chamber said: “No person has ever been intercepted by structures financed by the Ministry of Justice in 2024”.
International Press Reports and Government Response
When the Paragon case emerged, the international press (specifically the British Guardian and the Israeli Haaretz) reported various information about the relationship between the company and Italy. In particular, that there were two contracts in force: one with the intelligence services and one with a police force. In addition, following the Paragon scandal, it would have terminated the existing contracts for a violation of the code of ethics. The government denied this, only to announce less than two days later that the contract with Paragon had been suspended.
The Graphite spyware, allegedly implanted in smartphones, allowed data to be extracted, raising concerns about the extent of the surveillance.
On Wednesday, the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi gave a new interpretation: “Interceptions must always be considered legitimate as they are always ordered or authorized by the judicial authority in the context of proceedings that by their nature are covered by judicial confidentiality. That’s why I struggle to understand a controversy that is based on the presumption that these are illegal initiatives,” he said. Suggesting that the interceptions were taking place for legitimate investigations by the judiciary. But not remembering that, as far as journalists are concerned, they can only be intercepted when it is indeed suspected that very serious crimes are being committed, such as international terrorism.
All hypotheses remain open. Including the possibility that the espionage was carried out by an external agency, illegally using the software (which is sold only to governments and public bodies). It remains to be seen whether the investigations by the prosecutors will be able to shed light.
Committee to Protect Journalists Condemns Spyware Use
The Committee to Protect journalists stated that the attack on investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato with Paragon spyware is a serious concern.
Spyware Capabilities and Concerns
Advanced spyware tools like Graphite, developed by the Israeli company Paragon Solutions, can penetrate mobile devices via WhatsApp, raising important privacy concerns.
Key Individuals Involved
- Francesco Cancellato: Director of Fanpage.it, targeted by spyware.
- Luca Casarini: Founder of the NGO Mediterranean Saving Humans, also targeted.
- Don Mattia Ferrari: Chaplain of the NGO Mediterranea, another alleged target.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Ongoing | Investigations by prosecutors in Napoli, Bologna, Palermo, and Roma. |
| Recent | Government refuses to answer parliamentary questions regarding the Paragon case. |
| Earlier | Reports in international press about contracts between Paragon and Italian entities. |
Graphite Spyware Scandal in Italy: Unpacking teh Allegations and Investigations
The discovery of complex spyware like Graphite being used to target journalists and activists has ignited a important controversy in Italy. Allegations of espionage have spurred multiple investigations and raised serious questions about privacy and government transparency. This article delves into the key aspects of the graphite spyware scandal, providing a comprehensive overview of the ongoing investigations, key players, and government responses.
What is the Graphite Spyware Scandal in Italy?
The Graphite spyware scandal centers around the alleged use of Graphite software, developed by Paragon Solutions, to spy on journalists and activists in Italy. This has led to multiple investigations by Italian prosecutors and raised serious concerns about surveillance and privacy rights, particularly regarding potential illegal interceptions.
What is Graphite Spyware and What are its Capabilities?
Graphite is an advanced spyware tool developed by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company. It is alleged to be capable of penetrating mobile devices, perhaps through platforms like whatsapp, to extract data. This raises significant privacy concerns due to its ability to access personal information from targeted individuals’ devices.
Who are the Key Individuals Targeted in the Graphite Spyware scandal?
Several individuals have allegedly been targeted by the Graphite spyware. The most prominent include:
Francesco Cancellato: Director of Fanpage.it.
Luca casarini: Founder of Mediterranea Saving Humans.
Don Mattia Ferrari: Chaplain of the NGO Mediterranea.
What Investigations are Currently Underway Regarding the Paragon Spyware Case?
There are currently four investigations underway, led by prosecutors in:
Roma
Napoli
Bologna
Palermo
The alleged crime under investigation is illegal interception. The investigations aim to determine who carried out the espionage, who authorized it, and their motivations.
What is the italian Government’s Response to the Allegations?
The Italian government’s response has been complex and, at times, contradictory. Key points include:
Refusal to Answer Parliamentary Questions: The Meloni government has declined to respond to parliamentary questions regarding the Paragon case, citing potential state secrets.
Denial of Involvement by Intelligence Services: The government has repeatedly stated that Italian intelligence services were not involved in spying on journalists or other protected individuals.
Denials from Police Forces: Various police forces have denied using Paragon’s software.
* Suspension of Contract with Paragon: Initially denying any issues, the government later announced the suspension of its contract with Paragon, following international press reports.
What is the Controversy Surrounding the government’s Use of State Secrets?
The government’s invocation of state secrets regarding the Paragon case has drawn criticism. The Alleanza Verdi-Sinistra (Avs) specifically requested information about the level of secrecy imposed and which administration signed the act covering the issue. The government’s refusal to provide this information has fueled suspicions and a lack of transparency.
What Did the International Press Report About the Paragon Case in Italy?
The British Guardian and the Israeli Haaretz reported that there were two contracts in force between Paragon and Italian entities – one with the intelligence services and one with a police force. They also reported that the contracts were terminated due to a violation of the code of ethics.
What is the Stance of the Committee to Protect Journalists?
The Committee to Protect journalists has condemned the alleged targeting of investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato with Paragon spyware as a serious concern, highlighting the threat to press freedom and journalistic integrity.
Are Interceptions Always Considered Legitimate in Italy?
According to the Minister of the Interior, Matteo piantedosi, interceptions should always be considered legitimate as they are ordered or authorized by the judicial authority in the context of proceedings covered by judicial confidentiality. Though, this statement has been challenged, particularly concerning journalists, who can only be intercepted when suspected of committing very serious crimes like international terrorism.
What is the Possibility of External Agency Involvement?
All scenarios remain open, including the chance that an external agency carried out the espionage illegally using the software. It remains to be seen whether the prosecutors’ investigations will shed light on this matter.
Key Events Timeline
| Date | Event |
| :———- | :—————————————————————————————————————– |
| ongoing | Investigations by prosecutors in Napoli, Bologna, Palermo, and Roma. |
| Recent | Government refuses to answer parliamentary questions regarding the Paragon case. |
| Earlier | Reports in international press about contracts between Paragon and Italian entities. |