Investigation finds three were hacked by Paragon spyware at same time, potentially fuelling questions for government
Italian prosecutors investigating a domestic spying scandal say they have independently confirmed that two immigration activists and a journalist were hacked at the same time in late 2024, suggesting all three were part of the same “infection campaign”.
The development could bring more questions for the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni, who has denied any involvement in the hacking of the journalist, the Fanpage editor-in-chief, Francesco Cancellato.
The controversy over the hacking claims erupted in early 2025, when WhatsApp revealed it had discovered that 90 people, including journalists and members of civil society, had been targeted by hacking software made by Paragon Solutions, a spyware maker founded in Israel but which is now owned by US investors.
Like other spyware makers, Paragon sells use of its spyware, known as Graphite, to government agencies, who are supposed to use it to fight and prevent crime. It can hack into any phone, without users knowing their mobiles have in effect been taken over. Paragon has previously confirmed it cancelled its contract with the Italian government after reports first emerged that Cancellato had been targeted.
