Alleged Italian phone hacking involves political gossip website, sources say
ROME - Italian prosecutors are looking into the alleged hacking of seven phones, including that of the head of political gossip website Dagospia, sources said, as part of a surveillance scandal involving the technology of spyware company Paragon.
The probe follows reports on the alleged spying on two investigative journalists, which have triggered opposition protests and the termination of contracts between Italy and U.S.-owned Paragon.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration has denied involvement in illicit activities.
Prosecutors in Rome and Naples are investigating the crime of unauthorized access into the phones, sources with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday, adding that Dagospia founder Roberto D'Agostino was among seven journalists and activists who were allegedly spied on.
D'Agostino, whose website Dagospia produces salacious gossip with political behind-the-scenes stories and is a daily must-read for many Italian reporters, was not immediately available for comment.
Dagospia, however, reported on the news involving its founder, republishing reports about the investigations from other media outlets under the headline: "Dagospia ends up being spied upon! The illegal wiretaps scandal gets bigger."
As part of their investigation, prosecutors are also looking into the alleged hacking of the phones of investigative reporters, Ciro Pellegrino and Francesco Cancellato, both from the Fanpage website, the sources said.
Italy's domestic and foreign intelligence agencies activated contracts with Paragon in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and used it on a limited number of people with permission from a prosecutor, a report by the parliamentary committee on security, COPASIR, said.
The foreign intelligence agencies used the spyware to search for fugitives, to counter illegal immigration, alleged terrorism, organised crime, fuel smuggling and for counter-espionage and internal security activities, COPASIR said.
The committee said it found no evidence that Italian intelligence services used Paragon spyware on Cancellato.
Separately, internet watchdog group Citizen Lab said it found evidence of spying on Pellegrino's phone.
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, leader of a small opposition party, called for clarity on Thursday over the hacking case, adding that one does not spy on journalists in democracies. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Son of Norway's crown princess charged with rape and assault
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Norwegian State Attorney Sturla Henriksbo reports on the decision on the indictment of Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, in Oslo, Norway, August 18, 2025. NTB/Jonas Fæste Laksekjon via REUTERS OSLO - The son of Norway's crown princess has been charged with rape, domestic violence, assault and other crimes following a year-long police investigation, a prosecutor said on Monday. Marius Borg Hoiby, 28, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson to Crown Prince Haakon, is expected to stand trial early next year and could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of the most serious charges, the prosecutor said. Hoiby has denied the most serious accusations against him, including those of rape and domestic violence, his lawyer Ellen Holager Andenaes has said. Andenaes did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. He has yet to appear before court to enter formal pleas on the charges. Hoiby does not have a royal title and is outside the line of royal succession. "It is up to the courts to hear this case and to reach a decision," the royal palace said in a statement. Police in November 2024 held Hoiby in detention for one week as part of the investigation. He was charged on Monday with 32 criminal offences, including one count of rape with sexual intercourse and three counts of rape without intercourse, some of which he filmed on his telephone, the prosecution said. "It's up to the judges to decide if he is guilty," Prosecutor Sturla Henriksboe told a press conference. Police in August last year named Hoiby as a suspect of physical assault against a woman with whom he had been in a relationship. Hoiby, in a statement to the media at the time, admitted to causing bodily harm to the woman while he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol and of damaging her apartment. Hoiby said he regretted his acts. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Tanzania court bans live coverage of opposition leader's treason trial
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Tanzanian opposition leader and former presidential candidate of CHADEMA party Tundu Lissu is escorted as he walks at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Emmanuel Herman/File Photo DAR ES SALAAM - A court in Tanzania on Monday banned the live coverage of treason proceedings against the East African nation's main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, who criticised the decision. Principal Resident Magistrate Franco Kiswaga said the ban would help protect civilian prosecution witnesses, acceding to a request by the state prosecutor who said it was necessary to conceal their identities. "Live streaming, live broadcast, and any other kind of live distribution of content online to the public including on social media or video broadcast ... are hereby prohibited," Kiswaga ruled during preliminary proceedings on Monday at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam. Lissu had already opposed the request saying that such an order would allow the court to operate in "darkness" and prevent his supporters from following the case. Officials from his CHADEMA party also criticised the court's order. "Justice must be done and be seen to be done," Lissu, who is representing himself after dismissing his attorneys, said last week. Lissu is the leader of Tanzania's biggest opposition party and has been in detention since early April after he was charged with treason and publication of false information. He has rejected the charges. Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a 2017 assassination attempt, was runner-up in the 2020 presidential election but his party has been disqualified from participating in October's presidential and parliamentary votes. His detention and unexplained abductions of government critics in recent months have shone a spotlight on the human rights record of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who says her government is committed to respecting human rights. Hassan is running for the presidency for the first time after assuming office following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli in 2021. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Poland charges Belarusian with planning warehouse sabotage
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox WARSAW - Polish prosecutors have charged a Belarusian citizen with planning to set fire to a warehouse in eastern Poland on behalf of foreign intelligence, a spokesperson said on Monday. The statement did not name the foreign power. Poland says its role as an aid hub for neighbouring Ukraine has made it a target for Russian and Belarusian secret services. Russia and Belarus have regularly rejected such allegations. Prosecutors suspected the 27-year-old man, Vitalij S, "collected data about a warehouse facility in the Lublin Voivodeship in July 2025, filmed and photographed it, and then passed this material on to representatives of foreign intelligence," a spokesperson said. He was charged with "acting for the benefit of foreign intelligence and preparing to undertake sabotage and diversionary activities consisting of setting fire to a warehouse facility," the spokesperson added. Prosecutors said the man, identified only by his first name and first initial of his surname in line with Polish privacy law, had admitted to the charges. The offence was punishable with up to eight years in prison, they added. The Belarusian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to a request for comment. REUTERS
