Richard Parks Francesco Cancellato Denounces Attack as a Threat to Press Freedom
Italian investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato was targeted by Israeli spyware after uncovering far-right extremism within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party. A WhatsApp notification informed him that his phone may have been compromised.
Cancellato, editor-in-chief of Fanpage, was the first to publicly disclose the attack after WhatsApp revealed that at least 90 journalists and civil society figures had been targeted. The spyware operation spanned more than 24 countries, including several in Europe.
Spyware Delivered Through WhatsApp Exploit
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, detected and blocked the Paragon spyware in December. The malware, known as Graphite, is designed for government use but has been misused to spy on journalists.
Reports suggest that Graphite was sent via PDF files in group chats, allowing infection without any user interaction.
The duration of Cancellato’s surveillance remains unknown, but the attack followed his 2023 investigation into the Brothers of Italy party. His undercover team exposed members performing Nazi salutes, chanting fascist slogans, and expressing antisemitic views.
EU Officials Condemn Targeting of Journalists
Cancellato, 45, stated he was unaware of any official investigation against him. He has begun a technical review to assess the extent of the breach.
His reporting triggered criticism of Meloni’s party in Italy and the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned fascist symbolism as “morally wrong”. The Jewish Community of Rome demanded strong action against hate and extremism.
Despite Brothers of Italy MP Giovanni Donzelli insisting his party does not tolerate racism or extremism, the spyware attack raises serious concerns over political surveillance and press freedom.