Human Rights Activist David Yambio Targeted by Spyware Amid Criticism of Italian-Libyan Pact

ITItaly|

David Yambio, a human rights activist based in Italy, has revealed that his phone was compromised in a recent spyware attack, according to a notification from Apple. Yambio, who co-founded Refugees in Libya, has been an outspoken critic of the Italian government’s migrant agreement with Libya and the release of Osama Najim, a Libyan police chief wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes. Yambio, a former detainee of Najim’s at Mitiga prison, described the Italian pact as a “death sentence” for migrants.

Following the spyware alert, Yambio sought assistance from cybersecurity experts, underscoring his fears of being targeted due to his activism. Reports indicate that other activists and journalists in Italy were also potential targets of spyware made by the Israeli company Paragon Solutions. In response, the Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has denied involvement in the breaches, as pressure mounts for accountability regarding Najim's release and Italy’s migrant policies.

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