A chilling report from Citizen Lab, a Canada-based digital rights research group, has exposed a sophisticated surveillance operation targeting European journalists with military-grade spyware developed by Israel-based Paragon Solutions.
The investigation identified the use of Paragon’s Graphite spyware, previously linked to Italy’s surveillance of activists, in attacks on at least two prominent journalists known for their critical reporting on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government.
The spyware, which employs advanced “zero-click” exploits to infiltrate devices without user interaction, grants access to sensitive data, including encrypted instant messaging applications like WhatsApp and Signal. Citizen Lab’s forensic analysis uncovered “digital fingerprints” of Graphite in infections traced to Italy, with evidence suggesting a broader campaign targeting nearly 100 journalists, activists, and civil society members across Europe. The report also noted Graphite deployments in Canada, raising alarms about the global reach of such mercenary spyware.
The revelations come amid Italy’s recent decision to terminate its contract with Paragon Solutions, following allegations that the spyware was used to target critics of Meloni’s administration, including migrant rescue organizations in the Mediterranean. Italian authorities have acknowledged that phone numbers in Belgium, Greece, Germany, and other European countries were targeted in the campaign but claim they were unaware of the surveillance of journalists. This has intensified scrutiny of Italy’s use of surveillance technologies and sparked accusations of authoritarian tactics.
Citizen Lab’s findings highlight the growing threat of commercial spyware, which is increasingly accessible to governments and private entities. The report calls for urgent reforms to regulate the spyware industry and protect press freedom, warning that such surveillance undermines democracy. As public outrage mounts, European lawmakers are facing pressure to investigate and impose stricter oversight on the use of invasive technologies like Graphite.
