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<span>Ciro Pellegrino, head of Fanpage.it's Naples newsroom, and an anonymous prominent European journalist both received Apple notifications on April 29, 2025, alerting them to advanced spyware targeting (202506120000600139, 900129336). Forensic analysis revealed both devices contained the same iMessage account identifier, indicating they were targeted by the same Paragon operator.</span

Ciro Pellegrino, head of Fanpage.it's Naples newsroom, and an anonymous prominent European journalist both received Apple notifications on April 29, 2025, alerting them to advanced spyware targeting (202506120000600139, 900129336). Forensic analysis revealed both devices contained the same iMessage account identifier, indicating they were targeted by the same Paragon operator.

<span>The targeted journalists work for Fanpage.it, which previously published critical coverage of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, including an exposé revealing fascist and racist remarks by members of her Brothers of Italy party's youth wing (202506120003200102, 900129334). Francesco Cancellato, Fanpage.it's editor-in-chief, was also notified by WhatsApp in January 2025 that he had been targeted with Paragon spyware.</span

The targeted journalists work for Fanpage.it, which previously published critical coverage of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, including an exposé revealing fascist and racist remarks by members of her Brothers of Italy party's youth wing (202506120003200102, 900129334). Francesco Cancellato, Fanpage.it's editor-in-chief, was also notified by WhatsApp in January 2025 that he had been targeted with Paragon spyware.

<span>Italy's parliamentary intelligence oversight committee COPASIR confirmed that Italian intelligence services used Paragon's Graphite spyware against civil society activists but denied spying on Cancellato (202506120000600139, 202506120003200102). The committee said activists were targeted legally with government authorization over work related to irregular immigration and national security, not their activism.</span

Washingtontimes

Italy's parliamentary intelligence oversight committee COPASIR confirmed that Italian intelligence services used Paragon's Graphite spyware against civil society activists but denied spying on Cancellato (202506120000600139, 202506120003200102). The committee said activists were targeted legally with government authorization over work related to irregular immigration and national security, not their activism.

<span>Paragon Solutions, backed by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, was reportedly acquired by Florida-based AE Industrial Partners in December for at least $500 million (202506120000600139, 202506120003400170). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded Paragon a $2 million contract in September 2024 for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations support.</span

Paragon Solutions, backed by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, was reportedly acquired by Florida-based AE Industrial Partners in December for at least $500 million (202506120000600139, 202506120003400170). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded Paragon a $2 million contract in September 2024 for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations support.

<span>Both Italy and Paragon claim to have terminated their relationship but offer conflicting explanations, with Paragon stating it ended services after Italy declined help investigating Cancellato's case, while Italian authorities said they rejected the offer over national security concerns (202506120000600139, 202506120003200102). The European Commission called any illegal access to citizens' data "unacceptable" and pledged to use all tools to ensure EU law application.</span

Both Italy and Paragon claim to have terminated their relationship but offer conflicting explanations, with Paragon stating it ended services after Italy declined help investigating Cancellato's case, while Italian authorities said they rejected the offer over national security concerns (202506120000600139, 202506120003200102). The European Commission called any illegal access to citizens' data "unacceptable" and pledged to use all tools to ensure EU law application.

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Paragon Spyware Used Against European Journalists

France

Italy

Israel

Espionage

This represents a dangerous escalation of spyware abuse against press freedom in democratic countries. Journalists investigating government corruption are being silenced through invasive surveillance that violates fundamental rights. The targeting of Fanpage.it reporters after their exposé of fascist elements shows authoritarian tactics.

<span>This represents a dangerous escalation of spyware abuse against press freedom in democratic countries. Journalists investigating government corruption are being silenced through invasive surveillance that violates fundamental rights. The targeting of Fanpage.it reporters after their exposé of fascist elements shows authoritarian tactics.</span>

Israeli Spyware Targets European Journalists' Devices

Israeli Spyware Targets European Journalists' Devices

ParagonIsraeli Spyware UsedTargets Against European Journalists' Devices

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Israeli Spyware Targets European Journalists' Devices

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