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Italy’s ongoing spyware scandal has taken a new turn after reports suggested a prominent Italian businessman’s phone was targeted with “Graphite,” the mercenary spyware linked to Paragon. The alleged targeting expands the controversy beyond journalists and civil society, signaling a broader pattern that now appears to reach into the country’s business elite.
What’s Alleged and Why It Matters
The businessman reportedly received a suspicious WhatsApp message consistent with tactics documented in recent investigations into “Graphite.” The message is said to coincide with other cases uncovered this year, when researchers and watchdog groups outlined how sophisticated exploits could silently compromise iPhones, read encrypted chats, and exfiltrate files. If confirmed, this fresh allegation widens the scope of victims and raises urgent questions about who ordered the surveillance and under what legal basis.
A Widening Target Set
Until recently, disclosures focused on journalists and activists. Independent forensic work and policy reviews this year brought forward multiple suspected infections and a clearer technical fingerprint for “Graphite.” The addition of a high-profile business figure suggests the technology may have been deployed in contexts far beyond national security, intensifying calls for transparency, oversight, and remedies for victims.
How “Graphite” Reportedly Works
“Graphite” has been described as a highly invasive tool that can silently access messages, call logs, microphone, camera, and location data. Modern iterations reportedly exploit up-to-date mobile operating systems using zero-click or low-interaction techniques, making detection difficult for end users. Once implanted, the tool can be configured to persist, record, and transmit sensitive data back to command infrastructure with minimal user-visible traces.
Regulatory and Political Fallout in Italy
Authorities and lawmakers have already been scrutinizing procurement, authorization, and audit trails for spyware use. Prior findings acknowledged targeted operations against specific individuals, prompting fierce debate about proportionality and legality. The latest allegation will likely heighten pressure on institutions to disclose who approved deployments, the safeguards in place, and whether any rules were breached.
The Commercial Spyware Reckoning
Italy’s case reflects a broader reckoning over commercial surveillance providers worldwide. Even firms marketing themselves as “responsible” or “ethical” have faced backlash when their tools surfaced in operations against journalists, activists, dissidents, or non-security targets. In parallel, researchers have delivered technical confirmations of infections, while civil society groups have called for procurement bans, sanctions, and stronger export controls.
What At-Risk Users Should Do Now
- Keep devices updated to the latest OS and security patches.
- Reboot iPhones daily to disrupt some forms of spyware persistence.
- Turn on Lockdown Mode if you face elevated risk.
- Use separate devices/accounts for sensitive communications when possible.
- Seek forensic assistance from reputable labs if you suspect compromise.
What to Watch Next
Expect further disclosures as legal processes, parliamentary committees, and independent labs continue their work. Key flashpoints include: confirmation of technical indicators on the businessman’s device, identification of the operators behind the targeting, and any disciplinary or legal actions if misuse is proven. The outcome could reshape national policy on surveillance tech and influence EU-level rules on lawful access and human rights safeguards.
Explore our analysis of Europe’s Commercial Spyware Crisis in 2025 for timelines, players, and policy reforms.