Hello followers! Today we dive into a fascinating story about spyware, espionage, and Italian politics — all sprinkled with a tech twist!

Recently, Italy’s parliament confirmed that their government used spyware from an Israeli firm to hack activists working to save immigrants at sea. But don’t worry, a notable Italian journalist wasn’t among the targets, according to the investigation.

The inquiry, led by COPASIR — Italy’s parliamentary security committee — revealed that the spyware, called Graphite, was used by Italian intelligence agencies. Interestingly, the report also shared that the spyware can log in with secure credentials, keep detailed activity logs, and that these logs are stored on servers controlled by the clients, not the spyware maker itself.

While the government had contracts with the spyware provider Paragon, they affirmed these were rescinded and that targeted usage was lawful, aiming to investigate issues like illegal immigration and organized crime. The report clarified that no evidence pointed to targeting journalists—except for some reports of notifications sent via WhatsApp to certain individuals, including a journalist, Francesco Cancellato. However, searches and audits on Cancellato’s data indicated no illegal targeting occurred.

This investigation opens many questions about the line between national security and privacy. Some targets, such as activists, were clearly lawfully monitored, but the case of Cancellato remains a mystery, leaving observers like researcher John Scott-Railton questioning who exactly targeted him and why.

Overall, Italy’s spy agencies seem to be walking a tightrope, with enough legal cover but lingering doubts about their scope and intent. The report also hints at potential foreign government clients of the spyware, adding another layer of intrigue. And so, the saga of spyware in Italian politics continues, with many secrets still hidden in the shadows of surveillance tech.