An Italian journalist speaks about being targeted with Paragon spyware

Summary: Francesco Cancellato, an undercover journalist and editor-in-chief of the Italian newspaper Fanpage, reveals having been targeted by spyware, part of a broader trend of surveillance against critical voices in Italy. Cancellato, along with others, fears that the increasing use of such technology poses a threat to civil society and journalism. While there are suspicions regarding government involvement, specific connections to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remain unconfirmed.

Affected: Italian journalists, specifically Francesco Cancellato and others critical of the government.

Keypoints :

• Francesco Cancellato’s account was hacked via spyware, targeting journalists critical of the Italian government.
• He has led undercover investigations into far-right political parties in Italy, raising alarms about their extremist behaviors.
• Cancellato expresses concerns about the implications of using spyware against activists and journalists, arguing that it undermines democracy.