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Italian Lawmakers Demand Clarity on Alleged Journalist Spying with U.S.-Made Spyware

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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:

  • Paragon claimed it offered the Italian government a method to verify spyware usage against Cancellato, and ended the contract when the offer was refused.

  • 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.

Independent Turkish News Websites Threatened by Google’s Algorithm Changes

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Several independent media outlets in Turkey are facing potential closure due to significant changes made to Google’s algorithms, which have drastically reduced the reader traffic to their websites. According to a joint statement from the affected outlets, since the end of January 2025, Google’s updates have largely eliminated the traffic that was previously directed to them through Google’s “Discover” and “News” tools. This decline in traffic has severely impacted their financial sustainability.

Independent news outlets such as T24, Medyascope, Diken, and Birgun have expressed concern that these changes not only harm their businesses but also limit the public’s access to news. The outlets have announced plans to take legal action in response, aiming to protect their corporate rights, the work of their employees, and the support of their readership, which they claim has been unfairly affected by the changes. They are also seeking legal recourse from both local and international legal bodies, including Turkey’s Competition Authority.

A spokesperson from Google responded, stating that the recent algorithm changes were not targeted at individual websites. Instead, the adjustments were made to improve the overall search experience. “We don’t and would never manipulate search results, modify our products, or enforce our policies to promote or disadvantage any particular viewpoint,” the spokesperson said.

Turkey ranks 158th out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. The group noted that with 90% of Turkey’s media under government influence, the public has increasingly relied on independent news sources for accurate and critical information. However, these outlets are heavily dependent on Google revenues, as private companies are often reluctant to advertise on independent media websites.

Amidst these challenges, Gazete Duvar, another independent news outlet, announced its closure on Wednesday, attributing the decision to revenue losses caused by the changes in Google’s algorithms, compounded by the economic pressures of inflation.

Hong Kong Journalists Convicted of Sedition, Sparking Concerns Over Press Freedom Amid Beijing’s Crackdown

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Two former editors of the now-defunct pro-democracy publication Stand News in Hong Kong were found guilty of sedition by a local court, a verdict that has deepened global concerns over press freedom in the semi-autonomous city. Chung Pui-kuen, former editor-in-chief, and Patrick Lam Shiu-tung, former acting editor, were convicted under a colonial-era law that has resurfaced as a powerful tool to suppress dissent, following the 2019 anti-government protests. Critics argue the ruling is a stark reminder of the erosion of press liberties under Beijing’s expanding influence over Hong Kong.

The sedition charges against Chung and Lam arose from the publication of 17 articles between July 2020 and December 2021, which prosecutors claimed incited hatred against both the Hong Kong government and China’s central authorities. The articles included interviews with former opposition lawmakers and pro-democracy activists, many of whom are currently imprisoned or in self-imposed exile. Despite the defense’s argument that the publication maintained balanced journalism by featuring a variety of voices, the court ruled that 11 of the 17 articles were seditious.

Judge Kwok Wai-kin asserted that the articles in question were published during a highly charged political environment and had the intent to incite public hatred and illegal actions against the government. The court emphasized that both Chung and Lam bore responsibility for providing Stand News as a platform to stir unrest. The sentencing for the two journalists will be announced at a later date, with a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

The case marks the first time journalists have been prosecuted for sedition in Hong Kong since its return to Chinese rule in 1997, underscoring the city’s stark transformation from a once-thriving hub of press freedom to a place where critical voices are systematically silenced. Hong Kong’s media landscape has shrunk dramatically since the introduction of the national security law in 2020, with several independent outlets, including Apple Daily and Stand News, being forced to shut down.

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While authorities in both Hong Kong and Beijing argue that the national security law has restored order following the unrest of 2019, critics see the legislation as a sweeping measure to quash any form of political dissent. The law’s broad reach has left many journalists and activists either jailed or fleeing the city. The recent conviction also coincides with the ongoing trial of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who faces charges of colluding with foreign forces and sedition, potentially facing life imprisonment if found guilty.

Further compounding fears of censorship, Hong Kong’s government recently passed a second national security law known as Article 23, which increased penalties for sedition-related offences, extending potential prison sentences to 10 years. Media workers have expressed growing concern over these developments, as highlighted in a recent report by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA). The HKJA’s latest annual survey revealed that press freedom in the city has reached its lowest point since the organization began tracking it in 2013, with journalists increasingly worried about potential repercussions for their work.

Hong Kong leader John Lee, a former police chief, has dismissed concerns about the decline in press freedom, insisting that the city remains a vibrant media hub. However, international watchdogs like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have offered a grimmer assessment, ranking Hong Kong 135th out of 180 countries in its 2023 World Press Freedom Index—an alarming drop from 18th place in 2002. The steep decline reflects the growing pressure on journalists in the city as Beijing tightens its grip, bringing Hong Kong’s once vaunted media freedoms closer in line with mainland China’s highly controlled press environment, which ranks near the bottom of RSF’s index at 179th.

As the court proceedings continue, the convictions of Chung and Lam serve as a chilling message to those who dare to question or criticize authorities in Hong Kong. The international community will be closely watching how this case, along with others like that of Jimmy Lai, unfolds, as it reflects the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in the face of authoritarian rule.