In response to the controversies surrounding Pegasus spyware, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has called for expedited legislation to bolster the protection of activists, journalists, and politicians. Reynders addressed the European Parliament, advocating for rigorous investigations into any unauthorized tapping and the accountability of those involved in such breaches of privacy.
The European Commission has voiced strong disapproval of any illicit efforts by security services to infiltrate individuals’ information through their mobile devices. The Commissioner stressed the necessity for thorough inquiries by member states into the Pegasus allegations to re-establish trust among the public.
Hungary’s data protection authority is currently examining accusations that the Hungarian government used Pegasus spyware for invasive surveillance of journalists and political adversaries. Reynders highlighted the European Court of Justice’s stance that governmental restrictions on the confidentiality of communications are only permissible in exceptionally limited situations.
An impending EU privacy regulation aims to tighten these rules further. Reynders emphasized the importance of this regulation and urged the European Parliament and member states to finalize it promptly in light of the spyware scandal.
The Pegasus spyware issue gained international attention when a consortium of media organizations, including The Guardian, reported its misuse. Forensic analysis of phones and an examination of a leaked database suggested widespread targeting of high-profile individuals by clients of the NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance firm.
During a European Parliament debate, MEP Sophie In ‘t Veld announced the parliament’s civil liberties, justice, and home committee would initiate an inquiry into the Pegasus usage within the EU.
Hungary has come under scrutiny after allegations surfaced about its government’s use of Pegasus software, with several Hungarian journalists and opposition figures appearing on a leaked list associated with the Pegasus project. Hungarian legislation allows surveillance by intelligence services without judicial oversight in national security cases, subject to authorization by the minister of justice.
MEPs have also raised concerns about the alleged use of spyware against Catalan politicians, with calls for investigation into what has been labeled as potential domestic political espionage.
NSO Group, under regulation by the Israeli ministry of defence, asserts that it sells its technology solely for counterterrorism and crime investigations, and that it carefully reviews its clients’ human rights records. The company has stated that being listed does not imply surveillance by Pegasus, and that it neither operates the systems nor has access to the data of government customers’ targets.
