Ossigeno Special Report. How Threats Against Journalists Are on the Rise in Lombardy

28 May 2026

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Why Milan and its Italian region have the highest level of intimidation and the second-highest number of threatened journalists after Piedmont

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THIS FOCUS on Lombardy complements the Ossigeno per l’Informazione’s 2025 Annual Report (read). It was presented on May 28, 2025, in Milan by Grazia Pia Attolini, Giuseppe F. Mennella, Alberto Spampinato,  and Laura Turriziani, all member of Ossigeno Monitoring Centre, at the conference/training course  titled “Spyware, SLAPP, and Gender-Based Threats: ‘The New Map of Intimidation Against Journalists in Italy’,” organized by the Lombardy Order of Journalists at the FAST Convention Center, moderated by Ester Castano.

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OSSIGENO May 28, 2026 – In Lombardy, the phenomenon of intimidation, threats, frivolous lawsuits, and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) directed at journalists—who are targeted by powerful and overbearing individuals to prevent them from gathering and disseminating uncomfortable news—is endemic. It has been manifesting in a serious and evident manner for many years, and recently, certain changes and trends have emerged that make it even more concerning. From 2024 to 2025, there was a significant worsening of the situation, making Lombardy the Italian region with the highest level of intimidating pressure and, after Piedmont, the highest number of journalists threatened during the year. 

In general, the phenomenon in Lombardy shares the same characteristics as in other Italian regions: it is a form of censorship—a disguised, selective, and illegal form of censorship that is nonetheless widely tolerated. The scale of the problem is also comparable to that of other regions traditionally more affected by this issue: Sicily, Campania, and Lazio. This is according to data from Ossigeno, which, from 2006 to 2025, recorded 6.7 percent of the 8,314 threats and acts of intimidation directed at journalists in Italy in Lombardy: this percentage places Lombardy among the top three regions with the most threatened journalists, with Lazio in first place (15%) and Campania in second (8%).

That said, recent changes in this phenomenon call for a closer examination of what is happening in Lombardy than has been done so far, because in recent years, threats and intimidation against journalists in this region have expanded and intensified in both number and type, earning the region several absolute negative records. Before listing what they are, let’s clarify how these figures were obtained.

The worsening of the situation has emerged from the direct monitoring of these incidents that the nonprofit organization Ossigeno per l’Informazione has been conducting continuously for twenty years throughout Italy. Ossigeno collects information, screens it, and publicly documents individual incidents deemed relevant after verifying the factual accuracy of the events and the ethical correctness of the threatened journalist’s conduct. To this end, it employs a scientific methodology published in 2013, which is applied by competent professional observers. Most of the work is done on a voluntary and unpaid basis, while other services are compensated with fair remuneration. Costs are covered by proceeds from spontaneous donations, the “5 per mille” tax allocation, and annual contributions that Ossigeno receives from the National Order of Journalists and certain regional orders, including, in the past, the Lombardy Order of Journalists. 

This information gathering takes the form of in-depth journalistic investigation, which, in our case, is enhanced by two important factors: 

a) systematic legal advice to assess cases with legal implications, particularly lawsuits and SLAPPs; 

b) the advantage derived from the ability to conduct research and analysis over a significantly longer timeframe than that imposed on newspapers by competition among media outlets. 

Let’s now see what Ossigeno has uncovered in Lombardy through this monitoring.

RECORD NUMBER OF THREATENED JOURNALISTS — From 2012 to 2025, Ossigeno recorded 7,388 threatened journalists throughout Italy, 557 (10.38%) of whom were in Lombardy, This figure places Lombardy third among the regions, behind Lazio (1,272 threatened, or 15%) and Campania (673 threatened, or 6.7%). Over the course of these 13 years, the annual percentage of journalists threatened in Lombardy has fluctuated between 4% in 2017 and a record high of 16% reached in 2025, with 122 journalists threatened. Lombardy had already recorded a very high percentage of those threatened in 2022: 15.5%, with 112 out of the 721 people threatened in Italy. 

VIOLENT ACTS, ANOTHER RECORD – Data from Ossigeno show that in 2025, these forms of unlawful restriction of press freedom and the right to free expression occurred in Lombardy not only in greater numbers but predominantly in the most violent forms: assaults, threats, and property damage. In 2025, this type of intimidation accounted for 77% of all cases in Italy and 86% in Lombardy. Furthermore, in Lombardy over the past three years, the proportion of violent acts has risen by 23%, rising from 63% in 2023 to 76% in 2024 and reaching 86% last year.

In this annual ranking, Lombardy moved up one spot, from third to second place, placing behind Piedmont (140 people threatened, 20% of the total) and Lazio (112 threatened, 14.76% of the total), which dropped from first to third place (with 95 threatened, equal to 13.5%). These three regions accounted for about half of the 759 journalists threatened throughout Italy.

The sharpest deterioration was undoubtedly observed in  Piedmont, where—as in Lombardy—the increase in incidents of collective threats weighed heavily. Piedmont rose from tenth to first place.

THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTIMIDATION — In 2025, Lombardy set another negative record: it became the Italian region where the level of intimidation against journalists is highest. Ossigeno calculates this metric by comparing the number of journalists threatened in a region to the number of journalists registered in the professional association in that same region. This metric therefore provides an assessment of the prevalence of intimidation and threats in each region. The regional rankings have recently undergone significant changes. In 2024, Liguria, Veneto, and Umbria topped the list. In 2023, Sicily, Calabria, and Sardinia led the rankings. In the past, regions such as Basilicata and Liguria have also held this annual top spot.

GROUP THREATS – One of the reasons for the increase in the number of journalists threatened in Lombardy is the rise in collective threats, which in 2025 accounted for more than half of all threats: 69 out of 122, or 56%.

In this Special Report, Ossigeno examines the situation in the region by analyzing data, trends, and significant stories.

NUMBER OF THREATENED JOURNALISTS – From 2012 to 2025, Ossigeno recorded 767 threatened journalists in Lombardy, accounting for 10.38% of the 7,388 documented throughout Italy during the same period. In 2025, the percentage peaked at 16%. Over this period, Ossigeno recorded an average of 54 threatened journalists per year in Lombardy; the all-time high was reached in 2025 with 122 threatened. The table also shows the total for Italy for each year. The annual average in Italy is 527 journalists, bloggers, and human rights defenders threatened with physical or verbal violence or through the use of intimidating legal actions.

YEAR	in Lombardy	in Italy
2012	41 (12.5%)	327
2013	40 (10.3%)	386
2014	63 (12.4)	506
2015	52 (9.8%)	528
2016	50 (12.1%)	412
2017	20 (4.72%)	423
2018	100 (10.4%)	959
2019	38 (8.05%)	472
2020	29 (5.85%)	495
2021	34 (8.85%)	384
2022	112 (15.5%)	721
2023	19 (3.8%)	500
2024	47 (9.10%)	516
2025	122 (16.07%)	759
Total 2012–2025	767 (10.38)	7,388

INTIMIDATION PRESSURE – Lombardy ranks among the regions most affected by threats against journalists in 2025, even when considering the rate of intimidation pressure—that is, the number of journalists threatened relative to the total number of journalists registered with the Order.  In 2024, it ranked fourth. Lombardy shares this grim distinction in 2025 with Piedmont and Liguria. Lazio, the region with the highest number of journalists threatened since 2006, ranks fourth in terms of intimidation pressure.

CHANGES IN THE RANKING OF REGIONS WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTIMIDATION | Comparison: 2025–2023
IN 2025	IN 2024	IN 2023
1st Lombardy	1st Liguria	1st Sicily
1st Piedmont	2nd Veneto	2nd Calabria
1st Liguria	3rd Umbria	2nd Sardinia
2nd Sicily	4th Sicily	2nd Umbria
2nd Abruzzo	4th Calabria	3rd Lazio
2nd Calabria	4th Lombardy	3rd Veneto
2nd Friuli-Venezia Giulia	5th Molise	4th Emilia-Romagna
3rd Veneto	5th Puglia	4th Campania
3rd Umbria	5th Emilia-Romagna	5th Puglia
4th Lazio	6th Lazio	5th Lombardy
4th Emilia-Romagna	7th Basilicata	6th Friuli-Venezia Giulia
4th Campania	8th Campania	6th Basilicata
5th Puglia	8th Piedmont	7th Tuscany
5th Basilicata	8th Tuscany	7th Liguria
6th Tuscany	9th Abruzzo	7th Abruzzo
7th Marche	10th Friuli-Venezia Giulia	–
8th Molise	10th Marche	–

IN THE NORTH – Among the regions of Northern Italy, Lombardy ranks second over the past three years in terms of the number of people under threat. In the two-year period 2023–2024, the phenomenon primarily affected Veneto. Over the past year, however, Piedmont has climbed the rankings.

Region	2023	2024	2025	2012–2025
Lombardy	19 (3.80%)	47 (9.11%)	122 (16.07%)	767 (10.38%)
Friuli-Venezia Giulia	4 (0.80%)	0	25 (3.29%)	108 (1.46%)
Piedmont	7 (1.40%)	8 (1.55%)	148 (19.50%)	325 (4.40%)
Veneto	27 (5.4%)	51 (9.88%)	43 (5.67%)	310 (4.20%)
Italy	500 (100%)	516 (100%)	759 (100%)	7,388 (100%)

TYPES OF ATTACKS – Over the past three years, those targeted in Lombardy have primarily been subjected to warnings in the form of insults, threats via social media, verbal intimidation, and messages written on banners and walls. In 2025, specifically, these types of attacks accounted for 77% of all incidents in Lombardy (compared to 41.50% of the total number of people threatened nationwide in Italy), followed by physical assaults (8.2%), the misuse of complaints and legal actions (7.38%), restricted access to information (6.56%), and property damage (0.82%).

Forms of Intimidation and Threats IN 2025 IN LOMBARDY	Victims of threats	%
Warnings	94	77.05%
Assaults	10	8.20%
Abuse of complaints and legal actions	9	7.38%
Obstructed access to information	8	6.56%
Damage	1	0.82%
Grand Total	122	100.00%

Overall, violent acts—comprising assaults, threats, and property damage—accounted for 86% of all threats carried out in Lombardy in 2025. If we consider, however, the total number of violent acts in Italy that year (584 out of 759 victims), those threatened in this manner in Lombardy accounted for 18% (105). Even during the 2012–2025 period, violent acts were the most frequent form of intimidation (52.41%) in the region, in line with the national trend, of which those in Lombardy accounted for 10%.

Comparison of Types of Attacks Lombardy vs. Italy	In 2023		In 2024		In 2025		2012–2025
TYPES OF ATTACKS	In Lombardy	in Italy	In Lombardy	in Italy	In Lombardy	in Italy	In Lombardy	in Italy
VIOLENT ACTS (Assaults, Threats, Property Damage)	12 (63.16%)	224 (44.80%)	36 (76.60%)	337 (65.31%)	105 (86.07%)	584 (76.94%)	402 (52.41%)	4,120 (55.77%)
STRATEGIC LAWSUITS AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (SLAPP)	7 (36.84%)	196 (39.20%)	11 (23.40%)	120 (23.26%)	9 (7.38%)	117 (15.42%)	304 (39.63%)	2,520 (34.11%)
OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING INFORMATION	0	80 (16%)	0	59 (11.43%)	8 (6.56%)	58 (7.64%)	39 (5.08%)	487 (6.59%)
TOTAL THREATENED	19 (100%)	500 (100%)	47 (100%)	516 (100%)	122 (100%)	759 (100%)	767 (100%)	7,388 (100%)

The tables below show the evolution of threats in Piedmont and Lazio as well, which, as noted at the beginning, along with Lombardy, are the regions most affected by threats in 2025.

Comparison of Attack Types Piedmont-Italy	In 2023				In 2024			In 2025				2012–2025
TYPES OF ATTACKS	In Piedmont		in Italy		In Piedmont		in Italy	In Piedmont			in Italy	In Piedmont			in Italy
VIOLENT ACTS (Assaults, Threats, Property Damage)	5 (71.43%)		224 (44.80%)		6 (75%)		337 (65.31%)	148 (100%)			584 (76.94%)	266 (81.85%)			4,120 (55.77%)
ABUSIVE LEGAL ACTIONS (SLAPP)	2 (28.57%)		196 (39.20%)		1 (12.50%)		120 (23.26%)	0			117 (15.42%)	1 (1.72%)			2,520 (34.11%)
OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING INFORMATION	0		80 (16%)		1 (12.50%)		59 (11.43%)	0			58 (7.64%)	58 (17.85%)			487 (6.59%)
TOTAL THREATENED	7 (100%)		500 (100%)		8 (100%)		516 (100%)	148 (100%)			759 (100%)	325 (100%)			7,388 (100%)
Comparison of Attack Types: Lazio vs. Italy		In 2023				In 2024			In 2025				2012–2025
TYPES OF ATTACKS in Lazio		in Lazio		in Italy		in Lazio	in Italy		in Lazio	in Italy			in Lazio	in Italy
VIOLENT ACTS (Assaults, Threats, Property Damage)		49 (28.65%)		224 (44.80%)		42 (45.16%)	337 (65.31%)		67 (59.82%)	584 (76.94%)			762 (45.85%)	4,120 (55.77%)
ABUSIVE LEGAL ACTIONS (SLAPP)		122 (71.35%)		196 (39.20%)		50 (53.76%)	120 (23.26%)		38 (33.93%)	117 (15.42%)			784 (47.17%)	2,520 (34.11%)
OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING INFORMATION		0		80 (16%)		1 (1.08%)	59 (11.43%)		7 (6.25%)	58 (7.64%)			89 (5.35%)	487 (6.59%)
TOTAL THREATENED		171 (100%)		500 (100%)		93 (100%)	516 (100%)		112 (100%)	759 (100%)			1,662 (100%)	7,388 (100%)

WHO IS MAKING THREATS? – Over the past three years in Lombardy, threats have come primarily from individual citizens.

	In 2023		In 2024		In 2025
SOURCE OF THE ATTACKS	In Lombardy	in Italy	In Lombardy	in Italy	In Lombardy	in Italy
Individual citizens or associations	8 (72.73%)	70 (37.43%)	11 (50%)	76 (38.58%)	14 (50%)	82 (36.44%)
Unknown	0	18 (9.63%)	6 (27.27%)	22 (11.17%)	4 (14.29%)	25 (11.11%)
Public institutions	1 (9.09%)	60 (32.09%)	5 (22.73%)	69 (35.03%)	3 (10.71%)	77 (34.22%)
Entrepreneurs	2 (18.18%)	14 (6.42%)	0	11 (5.58%)	1 (3.57%)	21 (9.33%)
Average	0	6 (3.21%)	0	3 (1.52%)	4 (14.29%)	8 (3.56%)
Criminal organizations	0	19 (10.16%)	0	16 (8.12%)	2 (7.14%)	12 (5.33%)
Total incidents	11 (100%)	187 (100%)	22 (100%)	197 (100%)	28 (100%)	225 (100%)

 

WHO ARE THOSE UNDER THREAT? — The following examples are provided purely to illustrate that behind these numbers are real people and actual incidents. Below is a brief summary of some incidents documented by Ossigeno in Lombardy over the past two years;  all stories of journalists under threat in Lombardy are available at this link.

GIORGIA VENTURINI

(Milan – Warnings – 10/10/2025)

Fanpage journalist Giorgia Venturini, 34, has been under enhanced police protection since September 10, 2025, when she discovered the severed head of a kid goat left in plain sight inside a black bag—which also contained the skinned animal’s hide—in front of the entrance to her home in Milan. A clear mafia-style warning. “It means: keep quiet or you’ll meet the same fate,” the journalist commented. Law enforcement protection has also been extended to Fanpage’s Milan office.

Milan. Mafia-style warning to Fanpage journalist Giorgia Venturini – Ossigeno per l’informazione

GIANNI BARBACETTO

(Milan, Complaints and Legal Actions – 07/10/2024)

(Note: Barbacetto has not been acquitted; the City has merely decided to “freeze” the claim until the conclusion of the investigation into possible corruption in urban planning)
In June 2024, the City of Milan, led by Mayor Giuseppe Sala, filed a lawsuit for damages against Gianni Barbacetto, a journalist for *Il Fatto Quotidiano*, over some of his posts regarding urban planning investigations and the role of city officials. Barbacetto had written on Facebook: “Question: Does the City of Milan really allow skyscrapers to be built in violation of regulations without any bribes changing hands, just like in the good old days of Tangentopoli?” expressing doubts about the conduct of its administrators. The City Council deemed that post to “contain statements seriously damaging to the image of the City of Milan and its administrative apparatus, alluding to corrupt conduct by city employees” and instructed its lawyers to sue the author for damages. In March 2025, following a proposal by Sala himself and several council members, the City backtracked and suspended (but did not withdraw) the claim for damages against the journalist—but only pending the conclusion of the urban planning investigation, in which Milanese prosecutors have raised the possibility of a corruption offense. Thus, the proceedings have been put on hold until the aforementioned legal proceedings are concluded.

What to Do If Even the Mayor of Milan Plunges into the Quagmire of Frivolous Lawsuits – Ossigeno per l’informazione

The City of Milan Suspends the Lawsuit Against Journalist Gianni Barbacetto.pdf

FRANCESCO CANCELLATO

(Milan – Complaints and Legal Actions – January 2025)

Fanpage.it editor-in-chief Francesco Cancellato is among the more than ninety journalists and activists targeted by spyware from the Israeli company Paragon Solutions, which spied on them in 24 countries. This was confirmed by a message that Meta, via its verified WhatsApp Support account, sent to the journalist himself to alert him to the attack, which reportedly took place in December 2024. The following April, the same thing happened to Ciro Pellegrino, the editor-in-chief of Fanpage.it’s Naples bureau. Through subsequent investigations, the Public Prosecutor’s Office determined that the Italian government was not behind the attacks; rather, the government had “spied” on activists from certain NGOs. The perpetrators and their motives remain unknown.

Francesco Cancellato – Ossigeno per l’informazione

ALFREDO FAIETA

(Milan – Warnings – 2025)

Hundreds of flyers scattered throughout Milan featuring the reporter’s face, complete with donkey ears and a long nose. Beneath the photo, the words: “Nothing I said ever happened! Zero credibility but a perfect ten for consistency in lying—the best poorly written fantasy stories. Milano Today, have you ever thought of telling the truth? Maybe just once, to see what it’s like?” Faieta investigates urban planning issues. He reported the incident to the Guardia di Finanza and the Lombardy Press Association.

Alfredo Faieta – Oxygen for Information

NETWEEK GROUP VANDALISM (collective case)

(Bergamo, Brescia, Monza-Brianza – Warnings – March 28, 2025)

In March 2025, graffiti containing insults and threats—painted in red and signed by self-proclaimed “No Vax” activists—appeared on the exterior walls and windows of the newsrooms of four Lombardy-based print and online newspapers belonging to the Netweek Group, following similar incidents targeting the MontichiariWeek newsroom a month earlier. The action, which was clearly coordinated, took place simultaneously at the various locations. Five publications and newsrooms were targeted: ‘ChiariWeek’ in Chiari (BS), ‘Araberara’ in Clusone (BG), the ‘Giornale di Treviglio’ in Treviglio (BG), the ‘Giornale di Carate’ in Carate Brianza (MB), and the ‘Giornale di Vimercate’ in Vimercate (MB). The graffiti was identical or nearly so: “Liars who deny the truth like Nazis,” “No vax,” in some cases, and then circled “W”s, which have become the symbol of the “Guerrieri vivi,” a group with about 18,000 members on the social media platform Telegram. Law enforcement agencies in the three provinces involved—Bergamo, Brescia, and Monza-Brianza—investigated the incidents.

Lombardy. “No Vax” graffiti targeting five newsrooms of Netweek Group publications – Ossigeno per l’informazione

FABRIZIO RONCONE

(Milan – Warnings – March 24, 2025)

Andrea Stroppa, Elon Musk’s representative in Italy, attacked the Corriere della Sera journalist and his newspaper, even dragging his wife into it, addressing her in a post on X: “Ma’am, please help him. I know you’re busy running communications at Invitalia, but please find the time to help this man, ma’am.” Fabrizio Roncone had written in the Corriere della Sera that Elon Musk, “between a cannon and a shot of ketamine, would like to deport us to Mars,” and had called Andrea Stroppa “a henchman who threatens the Italian parliament.” The Corriere della Sera spoke of “unacceptable mafia-like methods” and noted that Stroppa “merely insults journalists, lacking the arguments to express a coherent opinion or, in any case, to provide an adequate explanation.”

Corriere journalist criticizes Andrea Stroppa, who responds by insulting him – Ossigeno per l’informazione

GIULIA INNOCENZI, GIOVANNI DE FAVERI

(Mantua – Assaults – 04/23/2026)

Two reporters from Report on Rai3, Giulia Innocenzi and Giovanni De Faveri, were attacked while documenting an investigation into the meat supply chain at the “Mario Troni” slaughterhouse in Monzanbano (Mantua). After asking questions of the owner, who had refused to answer, they were filming cows being unloaded from a truck onto the slaughter line when a person reached through the bars and attacked De Faveri with an iron bar, smashing the camera in two and nearly striking the cameraman as well. A complaint was filed with the Carabinieri; the man was subsequently identified and charged

Mantua. ‘Report’ film crew attacked with a metal bar; camera destroyed – Ossigeno per l’informazione

PAOLO BERIZZI

(Bergamo – Warnings – 07/04/2025)

The man who, for more than a year, threatened journalist Paolo Berizzi online—who is under police protection due to threats from far-right extremists—was sentenced by the Bergamo court to 22 months in prison (a non-suspended sentence due to prior convictions) and ordered to pay damages: “Your days are numbered…we need weapons and a heavy hand against you…a vigilante group will make you pay,” was the tone of the attacks on Berizzi, due to his articles against vigilante groups. Damages were also awarded to the Fnsi, which joined the case as a civil party.

Bergamo. He threatened Paolo Berizzi. Sentenced to 22 months in prison and ordered to pay damages – Ossigeno per l’informazione

SABRINA SCAMPINI

(Milan – Warnings – 2025)

The Mediaset journalist, who contributes to *Diario del Giorno* and *Quarto Grado*, reported in a social media post the malicious messages she received from a hater. In the reported comment, the woman, referring to the serious illness the journalist faced in 2017, wrote: “She was better off when she was bald and didn’t have the strength to ramble on (…) Yeah, she had a nasty tumor. Then, unfortunately, she recovered.” Scampini decided to take legal action because there are those who “can be deeply hurt by receiving calls for death and illness.”

Sabrina Scampini – Ossigeno per l’informazione

LINK ONLY

FIORENZA SARZANINI, MONICA GUERZONI, LUCIANO FONTANA

(Milan – Complaints and Legal Actions – 01/08/2026)

Milan. ‘Corsera’ lawsuit labeled ‘Putin-esque.’ The investigating judge: it is not defamation – Ossigeno per l’informazione

KLAUS DAVI

(Milan, Warnings – 12/18/2025)

Klaus Davi – Ossigeno per l’informazione

BRESCIA SPORTS JOURNALISTS

(Brescia – Obstacle to Information – 2025)

Brescia Sports Journalists – Oxygen for Information

TANCREDI PALMERI

(Milan – Assaults – 2025)

Tancredi Palmeri – A Breath of Fresh Air for Journalism

MARIA BRUNO, CREW

(Milan – Warnings)

Maria Bruno, Crew – Oxygen for Information

ENRICO FEDOCCI

(Milan – Assaults – 02/21/2025)

Milan. Conviction upheld for ‘anti-vaxxers’ who surrounded a TG5 news crew – Ossigeno per l’informazione

MANUEL PARLATO

(Milan – Obstruction of the press – 2025)

Manuel Parlato – Ossigeno per l’informazione

SIGFRIDO RANUCCI, GIORGIO MOTTOLA

(Milan – Complaints and Legal Actions – 2025)

Sigfrido Ranucci, Giorgio Mottola – Oxygen for Information

EDITORIAL STAFF, ALESSANDRO SALLUSTI, MARIO SECHI

(Milan – Warnings – 2025)

Editorial Staff, Alessandro Sallusti, Mario Sechi – Oxygen for Information

GPA/LT/ASP