In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the Italian political landscape, Sigfrido Ranucci, the director of Report, accused Giovanbattista Fazzolari, the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council, of activating secret services against him. This grave allegation was made during a conference titled "Free Information, Strong Democracy" held at the European Parliament in Brussels on March 26, 2025.
Ranucci, responding to a question from Eurodeputy Marco Tarquinio regarding whether he had ever felt surveilled through undisclosed means, stated, "More than suspicions, we have always had them. I have had certainty on at least three occasions, because my team caught three people following me, filming me during a meeting with a source; and on another occasion, I was certain that Fazzolari activated the secret services to ask for information about my activities." These claims have raised serious concerns over the integrity of journalistic freedom in Italy.
In immediate response to Ranucci's allegations, Sandro Ruotolo, another Eurodeputy, called for an urgent parliamentary inquiry, emphasizing the seriousness of the accusations. "We must immediately ascertain the facts and conduct an inquiry with all opposition parliamentary groups in Italy because what Sigfrido has said here is extremely serious. Sigfrido needs protection right now," Ruotolo stated.
Vittorio Di Trapani, the president of the National Federation of the Press (Fnsi), described the situation as "disturbing scenarios" and insisted that the government must publicly address Ranucci's claims. Di Trapani expressed concern over Article 31 of the Security Bill, which would compel journalists to provide information to secret services, effectively undermining the confidentiality of journalistic sources.
Fazzolari, facing the allegations, dismissed them as "delirious accusations" and stated that Ranucci would have to answer in court for his claims. "I have no ability to activate our intelligence services, and if I did, I certainly wouldn’t waste state resources to monitor an insignificant figure like Ranucci," he asserted.
As the political storm brewed in Brussels, another controversy was unfolding in Rome. Reports emerged that Alfredo Mantovano, another undersecretary, admitted during a secret hearing before the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (Copasir) that the Aise, Italy's external intelligence agency, had used the Graphite spyware from Paragon on activists from the NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans and on Francesco Cancellato, the director of Fanpage. This invasive spying was reportedly requested by the government as part of an investigation into illegal immigration that began in 2024.
According to Mantovano, all procedures regarding preventive interceptions were followed, although he denied any wrongdoing concerning Cancellato. However, if confirmed, this revelation could expose a web of deceit surrounding the government's previous statements, which claimed that none of the alleged spying victims were monitored by state apparatus. Mantovano had previously stated on March 4, 2025, that everything that could be said about the matter had already been disclosed.
In a statement, Mediterranea asserted, "Finally, Mantovano, delegated by the government, has admitted that Mediterranea and its activists were spied on by the secret services using military software Paragon Graphite because they were deemed a threat to national security. This legal but illegitimate activity targets activists and political opponents of the government, and it was never supposed to come to light." They further emphasized that five prosecutors are currently investigating the matter, expressing hope that someone would have the courage to uncover what they believe to be an abuse of power.
Giuseppe Giulietti, coordinator of Article 21, echoed these sentiments, criticizing the government for its lack of transparency. "The names of the journalists who were spied on have already surfaced. I would like to remind you that the spying on Report's sources had already emerged, and now we are faced with a bill that would 'normalize' the violation of journalistic professional secrecy, making it mandatory for secret services to access sources. If this is not a serious anti-democratic drift, then what is?"
The unfolding events have raised alarm bells about the state of press freedom in Italy, with many fearing that the government's actions could set a dangerous precedent for journalists and civil liberties. As the situation develops, the public and various organizations are calling for accountability and transparency from the government, demanding answers to the pressing questions surrounding these allegations.
With the Copasir set to present a report to Parliament soon, the implications of these accusations could have far-reaching consequences for the Italian government and its relationship with the media. As the investigation continues, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on how the government will respond to these serious allegations and what the future holds for journalistic freedom in Italy.
