Italian government approved use of spyware on members of refugee NGO, MPs told

The founders of Mediterranea Saving Humans, an NGO that tries to protect refugees crossing the Mediterranean, was targeted by the spyware approved by the Italian government. Photograph: Olmo Calvo/AP

The Italian government approved the use of a sophisticated surveillance tool to spy on members of a humanitarian NGO because they were allegedly deemed a possible threat to national security, MPs have heard.

Alfredo Mantovano, a cabinet undersecretary, made the admission during a classified meeting with Copasir, the parliamentary committee for national security, according to a person familiar with the situation.