Italian Adviser Becomes Latest Target in Expanding Paragon Graphite Spyware Surveillance Case

The GBHackers piece reports that Francesco Nicodemo, a veteran Italian political communications professional, has become the latest confirmed victim in the Paragon Graphite spyware surveillance case, marking another chapter in the campaign’s reach into opposition figures and political operatives.

Nicodemo previously served as national communications director for the Democratic Party in 2013–2014 during the Renzi administration and later led digital communications at Palazzo Chigi; in January 2021 he co-founded the Lievito agency, which handled thirteen election campaigns in 2024 for centre-left candidates.

The discovery of Paragon on his device came after an initial WhatsApp message he dismissed as phishing, followed by calls from a number with a US prefix (+1); it was only after John Scott Railton from Citizen Lab reached out that he recognised the gravity of the surveillance, according to Citizen Lab. Nicodemo’s case highlights how the spyware appears to target individuals involved in opposition election campaigns and political communications infrastructure.

The article notes that he had switched from Android to iPhone just days before detection, and that conversations likely contained messages from Democratic Party candidates, parliamentarians, and mayors, potentially valuable for those seeking intelligence on opposition strategy.