Italian Activists and Journalists Targeted by Graphite Spyware
Rome, June 2025 — A growing surveillance crisis has rocked Europe after it was revealed that the Italian government used Graphite, a powerful spyware tool, to monitor journalists and activists. The revelations have triggered outrage over privacy rights, legal oversight, and the expanding spyware threat in Europe.
Spyware Threat: Graphite’s Capabilities
Graphite, created by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions, is a zero-click spyware that can compromise a device without user interaction. It accesses emails, messages, photos, videos, and even encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal by exploiting vulnerabilities and intercepting data $2$, $7$.
How the Spyware Attack Unfolded
Targets were added to WhatsApp groups and sent malicious PDFs. These files triggered a zero-click exploit that installed spyware via remote code execution—without needing to be opened $2$, $7$.
Spyware Threat: Italian Activists and NGOs Monitored
Victims included members of Mediterranea Saving Humans, such as Luca Casarini, Giuseppe Caccia, and chaplain Father Mattia Ferrari. International figures like Humam El Gomati and David Yambio were also targeted due to their work exposing abuses against migrants $3$.
Spyware Threat: Legal and Ethical Storm
Italy’s Data Protection Authority warned that unauthorized spyware use could breach privacy laws and result in sanctions. While the COPASIR committee insists operations were legal, Amnesty International and other rights groups condemned the surveillance.
Spyware Threat: International Consequences
In a rare move, Paragon Solutions cut ties with Italian agencies after they refused to investigate allegations of journalist surveillance. This is the first public contract termination by a spyware vendor over misuse concerns.
Spyware Threat Beyond Italy
Graphite is being used across 13 EU countries, with targets including journalists and activists $1$. U.S. agencies like ICE and DEA have also shown interest, highlighting the global scale of this spyware threat.
Conclusion: Europe’s Digital Privacy at a Crossroads
The Italian Graphite scandal reveals how spyware tools are evolving faster than legal frameworks. As surveillance capabilities expand, so does the risk to civil liberties. Stronger regulation and international oversight are urgently needed.
This article includes reporting from Citizen Lab, BBC, Middle East Monitor, Malwarebytes, and other verified sources.
