The European Commission warns Italy it will face scrutiny under new EU media laws following reports it used spyware to monitor a journalist. Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said the allegations, if confirmed, would be “unacceptable”.
The case involves Fanpage director Francesco Cancellato, allegedly targeted by Paragon Solutions’ Graphite spyware. A second Italian Fanpage journalist was also targeted by Paragon spyware, Citizen Lab revealed yesterday (12 June). The revelation has sparked political tension in Rome and drawn EU attention ahead of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) coming into force on 8 August 2025.
“The Commission is aware of the recent reports on the use of Paragon,” said Virkkunen. “We will use all tools at our disposal to ensure effective application of EU law.”
Her comments came in response to a formal question in the European Parliament by MEPs from the PD, M5S, and AVS. They called for clarity on alleged abuses and criticised the Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni.
Deputy leader of the 5 Star Movement’s delegation, Gaetano Pedullà, welcomed the Commission’s stance. “This reminder from Brussels confirms that violations of EU regulations cannot be ignored. The rule of law must be respected,” he said.
Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano previously admitted to using Paragon spyware on a Mediterranean NGO. While the government denied involvement in the Fanpage surveillance case, the company has since cancelled its contracts with Italy, accusing authorities of failing to investigate its use properly.
The affair complicates the position of both government and opposition. Reports indicate interceptions of the same NGO occurred in 2019 under the PD-M5S coalition, now leading the criticism.
The European Parliament may review spyware usage across the EU in its next plenary session in Strasbourg.
