Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino, known for criticizing the Meloni government, received a notification from Apple about being targeted with sophisticated "mercenary spyware". This is the second incident involving a journalist from the investigative news outlet Fanpage.
Pellegrino is among the six individuals in Italy allegedly targeted with spyware deployed by state actors. The spyware attack on Pellegrino has raised concerns about the misuse of surveillance tools and the violation of privacy rights.
Pellegrino, who has been critical of the Meloni government on social media, sought assistance from researchers at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab to identify the spyware used in the attack. The investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of the breach and the motives behind it.
The Italian government's approval of the use of spyware on journalists and civil society members has sparked outrage and calls for transparency. The case involving Pellegrino is part of a larger issue of digital surveillance and the need to protect freedom of the press in Italy.