Why it matters:
The abrupt cancellation underscores growing global scrutiny of commercial spyware — and marks a rare public step by an EU government to distance itself from such tools amid mounting privacy concerns.
The big picture:
The decision comes after Meta notified dozens of individuals, including high-profile Italians, that they had been targeted with Paragon’s Graphite spyware. The revelation sparked outrage and prompted oversight by Italy’s parliamentary intelligence committee, Copasir.
What they’re saying:
Copasir reported that Italy’s foreign and domestic intelligence services — Aise and Aisi — suspended the contract on February 14 in response to the backlash. The agencies later opted to cancel the agreement altogether following commission inspections.
Key points:
Meta had warned individuals globally that they were targeted by Graphite spyware.
In Italy, those alerted included journalist Francesco Cancellato and priest Don Mattia Ferrari.
Copasir said the two were not monitored by Italian intelligence.
Surveillance of three others — including NGO figures Luca Casarini and David Yambio — was deemed legal by the commission.
The contract with Paragon Solutions was suspended first, then formally rescinded.
Go deeper:
Graphite spyware is capable of infiltrating smartphones, accessing messages, cameras, and microphones.
Paragon Solutions has been under fire internationally for marketing spyware to state clients.
The scandal mirrors global debates on state surveillance, echoing past controversies involving Pegasus spyware.
Several European nations, including Germany, France, and Spain, have voiced strong criticism of their respective governments over agreements and contracts established with the Israeli regime.
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