Frosinone Mayor Riccardo Mastrangeli targets fake news with legal action

Italian authorities have launched an investigation into a viral disinformation campaign targeting Riccardo Mastrangeli, the Mayor of Frosinone. A false report circulated on the Facebook page ‘Popolo Antifascista’ claimed the mayor had been arrested and that €500,000 in illicit funds related to migrant exploitation had been found in his home.

Following a formal complaint filed by Mastrangeli, the Digos division of the Frosinone Police and specialists from the Postal and Communications Police Cyber Security Section have begun an investigation. Law enforcement is working to identify the original creators of the fabricated content, which used altered graphic logos to deceive readers, as well as those who knowingly amplified the post through social networks and messaging platforms.

Investigators are currently analyzing digital traffic and network logs to trace IP addresses and servers used to disseminate the false news. The investigation aims to establish criminal responsibility for the creation, publication, and intentional spread of the defamatory content.