Italian prosecutors have confirmed that at least one journalist was targeted and successfully hacked using Paragon spyware as part of a broader investigation into surveillance activities in the country.

The confirmation represents a significant development in what authorities describe as a wide-ranging spyware scandal affecting Italy. Paragon, an Israeli-based spyware company, produces surveillance software similar to the more widely known Pegasus system.

Investigators have made progress in documenting the scope of the hacking campaign, which appears to have targeted multiple journalists. However, the identity of those responsible for deploying the spyware against media personnel remains unclear.

The case adds Italy to a growing list of countries where journalists have been targeted with commercial spyware. Such surveillance tools are typically sold to government agencies and law enforcement, though the specific customers and authorization for their use in this case has not been disclosed.

Italian authorities continue their investigation into the matter, though they have not provided a timeline for when they expect to identify the perpetrators or determine the full extent of the surveillance campaign.