Francesco Cancellato, Editor of Fanpage, Condemns Attack as a ‘Violation’
Italian investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato, known for his reporting on fascist influences within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party, has been targeted by Israeli-made spyware, according to a WhatsApp notification he received.
Cancellato, editor-in-chief of Fanpage, is the first publicly identified victim following WhatsApp’s revelation on Friday that at least 90 journalists and civil society members had been targeted by spyware developed by Israel-based Paragon Solutions.
The journalist received an alert from WhatsApp on Friday afternoon, along with dozens of other unnamed individuals across more than 24 countries, including several in Europe.
Israeli Spyware Used in Targeted Attacks on Journalists
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, discovered Paragon’s spyware activity in December and quickly moved to block the security vulnerability that may have compromised the journalists.
The spyware, called Graphite, is marketed as a tool for government agencies to combat crime, but has allegedly been used to infiltrate and monitor journalists. According to reports, Paragon delivered the spyware through PDF files in unauthorized group chats, infecting phones without the need for users to click on any link or attachment.
The extent of the surveillance on Cancellato remains unclear, but his investigative work has drawn significant attention. In May 2023, Fanpage’s undercover reporters exposed how members of the youth wing of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party engaged in fascist chants, Nazi salutes, and antisemitic rhetoric.
Their covert investigation revealed party members chanting “Duce”—a reference to Benito Mussolini—as well as “Sieg Heil”, and boasting about family connections to neo-fascist terrorism.
Cancellato himself was not part of the undercover operation but oversaw its publication, which sparked outrage in Italy and the European Union. Following the revelations, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the fascist symbolism, calling it “morally wrong”.
Cancellato Demands Answers as Investigation Begins
Cancellato, 45, said he never suspected his phone had been compromised and was never informed of any official investigation against him. The WhatsApp notification came as a shock, which he described as a “violation” of press freedom and personal security.
“We have begun a technical analysis of my device to determine the extent of this attack—what was accessed, what was monitored, and for how long,” Cancellato told The Guardian. “Of course, we also want to know who ordered this surveillance.”
Following Fanpage’s exposé, Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party faced backlash in Italy and Brussels. The Jewish Community of Rome called for immediate action, stating that society and institutions must strongly oppose all forms of hate and discrimination.
While Giovanni Donzelli, a senior Brothers of Italy MP, insisted there was “no place for racists, extremists, or antisemites” in the party, the incident has fueled concerns over press freedom and political surveillance in Italy.
With an ongoing investigation into the spyware attack, Cancellato’s case raises urgent questions about the misuse of surveillance technology against journalists and the future of independent investigative reporting in Europe.
