Summary: The Italian government faced allegations of spying on journalists and activists using military-grade spyware, which was reportedly supplied by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions. While the government denied these claims and emphasized compliance with the law, it initiated an investigation into the purported hacking of at least seven Italian cellphones. Notably, two targeted individuals linked to civil society confirmed they were informed by WhatsApp about the spyware attack.
Affected: Italian government, journalists, migrant activists, Paragon Solutions
Keypoints :
- Italian government denies allegations of illegal surveillance on journalists and activists.
- WhatsApp reported a spyware campaign targeting multiple users across the EU, including journalists.
- Investigations initiated by the National Cybersecurity Agency following confirmed hacks of Italian cellphones.
- Targeted individuals include critics of governmental policies, specifically in the areas of migration and political investigations.
- Paragon Solutions halted certain contracts post-exposure of the spyware attack.