Italian lawmakers have officially pressed the government for answers over whether it spied on journalists, possibly using surveillance software from U.S.-based spyware company Paragon, escalating a political scandal that has dogged Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration for months.
Lawmakers Seek Accountability
The COPASIR (Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic) has submitted a formal request to Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, a senior Meloni aide responsible for intelligence oversight, to clarify whether journalists were targeted with spyware. A source familiar with the matter disclosed this development on Friday.
Mantovano has not responded publicly, and the Meloni government continues to deny any illegal surveillance activities against journalists.
The Spyware Controversy
The scandal centers on Paragon’s spyware, which was reported by Meta in January to have targeted approximately 90 WhatsApp users, including Italians. Last month, Reuters reported that prosecutors were investigating whether journalists including Ciro Pellegrino, Francesco Cancellato (Fanpage), and Roberto D’Agostino (Dagospia) had been spied on. Dutch political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek was also reportedly affected.
COPASIR’s June report acknowledged that Italy’s intelligence agencies had contracts with Paragon and had used its tools against a limited number of targets, including members of a migrant sea rescue NGO. These operations were said to have judicial approval.
However, the committee found no evidence that Paragon spyware was used on Cancellato, contradicting the journalist’s public statements. The report made no reference to the other journalists, leaving the scope of surveillance unclear.
Conflicting Accounts and Contract Termination
Amid the public uproar and mounting political pressure, both Paragon and Italian authorities confirmed in June that their spyware contracts had been terminated. However, each party presented a different account:
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Paragon claimed it offered the Italian government a method to verify spyware usage against Cancellato, and ended the contract when the offer was refused.
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COPASIR countered that Italy independently ended the deal and disputed Paragon’s narrative.
Opposition Demands Transparency
Opposition lawmakers accuse the Meloni administration of using state surveillance tools to intimidate dissenters, especially critical journalists and NGOs. While the government maintains that any surveillance was conducted lawfully and within judicial boundaries, pressure is mounting for full transparency over the extent and targets of Paragon spyware deployment.
The episode has sparked widespread concerns over press freedom, abuse of state surveillance, and civil liberties under Meloni’s right-wing government.