The recent revelation of a spyware attack targeting another investigative journalist in Italy has intensified concerns about press freedom and surveillance within the country. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has publicly urged Italian authorities to diligently investigate these incidents and provide clarity on any potential government involvement in the surveillance.
Attila Mong, the Europe representative for CPJ, expressed serious concerns about the targeting of journalists, describing it as part of “a pattern of surveillance aimed at intimidating and silencing investigative reporting.” Mong emphasized the need for a transparent investigation to assure journalists that they can perform their work without fear of monitoring or reprisal.
This call to action follows a report from Ciro Pellegrino, an investigative journalist with Fanpage.it, who discovered that his smartphone was targeted due to his journalistic activities. Apple’s warning to Pellegrino, later verified by cybersecurity experts, highlights the increasing use of spyware against journalists who investigate sensitive issues like corruption and organized crime. Earlier this year, Francesco Cancellato, editor-in-chief of Fanpage.it, made similar allegations when his device was targeted by spyware.
The revelations have prompted the Rome prosecutor’s office to investigate these unauthorized surveillance activities. However, concerns about government-sanctioned surveillance remain, as there are reports of spyware use against migrant rights activists, approved by the government, according to leaks.
These incidents illustrate broader issues of privacy violations faced by journalists in Europe. The right to privacy is enshrined in international law, with both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights highlighting the importance of protection against such invasions.
Globally, rights advocates continue to raise concerns about surveillance technologies. Recently, a U.S. jury ordered NSO Group, the developer behind Pegasus spyware, to pay $168 million in damages for its misuse of spyware against journalists, indicating a growing legal pushback against intrusive governmental surveillance practices. It remains to be seen whether similar actions will be pursued in European jurisdictions.