Italy’s national union for journalists has taken legal action against the government following accusations that it illegally used spyware technology to target critics instead of criminals. The legal complaint, filed on Wednesday, stems from the government’s refusal to address questions in parliament regarding allegations of phone hacking using the Graphite spyware, developed by Israel-based Paragon.
The controversy erupted in late January when it was revealed that at least seven individuals, including migrant activist Luca Casarini and investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato, had been targeted with military-grade spyware intended for criminal surveillance. The revelation has raised alarms about the potential misuse of surveillance technology by government entities to monitor political opponents.
The legal action follows a decision by Lorenzo Fontana, the President of the Italian parliament, to prevent further inquiry into the matter, citing state secrecy rules and claiming all unclassified information had already been disclosed. The opposition, including legal professionals, have criticized this move, asserting that the government’s silence on the issue undermines democratic principles.
Despite the government’s denial of involvement, it was confirmed that Italy’s intelligence agency, Aise, had used the Paragon spyware but insisted it was not aimed at journalists or activists. However, the Italian government has since acknowledged that its contract with Paragon was suspended after a breach in the terms, which prohibited the use of the technology against journalists or civil society.
The FNSI (National Federation of the Italian Press) and the Italian Order of Journalists, who submitted the criminal complaint, are pushing for accountability. Alessandra Costante, Secretary General of FNSI, expressed concern that the government’s actions violate both the criminal code and Italy’s constitution, emphasizing that journalists should be free from the threat of illegal surveillance.
Legal experts, including Giuseppe Inzerillo, a criminal law specialist, have highlighted the grave constitutional implications of this issue, suggesting that the use of spyware for preventive wiretaps is only justified under extreme circumstances involving national security threats.
The investigation is ongoing, with the potential for legal challenges that could set significant precedents in Italy’s digital privacy and press freedom laws. The case has raised important questions about the balance between national security measures and civil liberties in the age of advanced surveillance technologies.
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