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Hacking of phones may include that of political website

-sources

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Meloni denies government involvement in illicit activities

ROME, June 19 (Reuters) - 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.