Italy's government denies that it has spied on journalists and migrant activists using spyware, but says it will cooperate with any investigation into “vulnerabilities” after at least seven Italian cellphones were apparently hacked with military-grade surveillance technology.

Italy denied on Wednesday that Israeli spyware maker Paragon had cut ties with Rome following allegations that the Italian government had illegally used its technology to hack the phones of critics instead of criminals.

A minister told parliament that while the government does have a contract with Israeli cyber solutions firm Paragon, it has not overstepped the law in its use of spyware technology. View on euronews