Paragon Spyware Confirmed in Journalists’ Phones: New Citizen Lab Report
Are journalists being spied on with Paragon spyware? New forensic evidence confirms that two European reporters, including Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino, were indeed hacked using surveillance software developed by the Israeli company Paragon. This disturbing revelation deepens concerns around the growing use of commercial spyware targeting members of the press. In this post, we’ll break down what Paragon spyware is, how these infections were confirmed, and what it means for press freedom in Europe. If you're looking to understand the implications of this spyware scandal, you're in the right place.
Paragon Spyware Confirmed: Journalists Targeted and Hacked
According to a new Citizen Lab report, Ciro Pellegrino of Fanpage and another unnamed high-profile European journalist were both victims of Paragon spyware, also known by its code name Graphite. Forensics revealed that both devices were compromised by the same client, believed to be a European government agency. Pellegrino had previously received an alert from Apple about a “mercenary spyware attack,” but until now, there was no direct evidence that his iPhone had actually been infected by Paragon’s tools. This new confirmation is the first of its kind—proof that Paragon’s spyware has successfully infected targets, marking a serious escalation in the surveillance of journalists.
Citizen Lab vs. Italian Intelligence: Conflicting Claims
This forensic evidence challenges the findings of Italy’s intelligence oversight committee, COPASIR, which recently stated it found no proof that journalists were spied on by Italian agencies. The COPASIR report did confirm, however, that both AISI and AISE—Italy’s internal and external intelligence agencies—are Paragon clients. Curiously, the report mentioned Francesco Cancellato, Pellegrino’s colleague and Fanpage’s editor-in-chief, but not Pellegrino himself. This omission now appears to be significant, as Citizen Lab’s technical analysis contradicts COPASIR’s conclusions and suggests broader surveillance activity than was officially acknowledged.
Spyware’s Scope Widens: Journalists and Humanitarians Among Targets
This isn’t an isolated case. Earlier in the year, WhatsApp alerted nearly 90 users across more than 20 countries, warning them of targeted attacks involving Paragon spyware. Among them were Italian journalists, nonprofit workers involved in migrant rescues, and others critical of government policies. The spyware’s presence in such contexts suggests its use goes beyond legitimate counterterrorism operations and into murkier political territory. The Paragon spyware scandal reflects a global pattern where powerful surveillance tools are used to monitor not just criminals, but also reporters, activists, and humanitarian workers—undermining democratic accountability.
Why Paragon Spyware News Matters Now
The confirmation of real-world infections by Paragon software marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing spyware debate. Unlike the more well-known Pegasus spyware from NSO Group, Paragon’s Graphite spyware has remained mostly in the shadows—until now. The latest findings raise serious questions about transparency, legal oversight, and the protection of press freedoms in democratic countries. If democratic governments are using commercial spyware to monitor journalists, where do we draw the line between national security and state overreach? The Citizen Lab's evidence puts pressure on European governments to investigate and regulate these tools more strictly, with a renewed focus on human rights.
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