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Italian lawmakers say Italy used spyware to target phones of immigrationactivists, but not against journalist
An Italian parliamentary committee found that the government used Paragon's spyware to surveil immigration activists but ruled out a prominent journalist as a target. The investigation highlighted issues surrounding surveillance legality and ethical implications, leaving unanswered questions about who might have targeted the journalist's phone. COPASIR confirmed lawful targeting in some cases, but uncertainties remain.
Key points
- COPASIR confirms Italian government used Paragon's spyware against immigration activists.
- Investigated activists Luca Casarini and Giuseppe Caccia were deemed lawful targets.
- Francesco Cancellato, a journalist, was not found to be a target despite receiving notifications.
- Paragon's spyware left logs inaccessible for deletion, hindering accountability.
- COPASIR found no abuses by Italian intelligence agencies in their targeting practices.
- Paragon contracts included clauses against targeting journalists, leading to accountability concerns.
Why it matters
- 2025 IT trends highlight increasing scrutiny over digital surveillance and privacy.
- Growing concerns about spyware abuses tie into historical events like the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
- The situation echoes global debates around government surveillance, human rights, and journalistic freedoms.
The findings from COPASIR spotlight the ongoing tension between governmental surveillance practices and individual rights, raising critical questions about accountability and transparency in digital espionage, particularly in the geopolitical context of immigration issues.