EU PARLIAMENT TO LAUNCH RARE INQUIRY INTO PEGASUS SPYWARE SCANDAL

Wed 23 February 2022:

As fresh evidence surfaces that Pegasus malware is being used to spy on politicians, journalists, and activists in various EU member states, the European Parliament is forming a rare committee of inquiry into the incident.

The European Data Protection Supervisor has called for a ban on the spyware’s usage in the EU, and Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has told MEPs that he “totally condemns” suspected attempts by national security agencies to improperly obtain data on political opponents.

Many EU countries are already worried about the consequences. In January, a senate inquiry in Poland reviewed papers that revealed the country’s Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) purchased Pegasus with funds from the justice ministry in 2017. The government’s leading party, Law and Justice, boycotted the commission in the opposition-controlled senate.

Developed by an Israeli cyber-arms company, the NSO Group, Pegasus is a spyware that can be covertly installed on mobile phones (and other devices) running on most versions of iOS and Android.

According to MEP Sophie In ‘t Veld and others, the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament demanded and received the formation of a commission of inquiry.

Pegasus, according to Hungarian opposition MP Anna Jlia Donáth, might jeopardize the entire electoral process.

“In the spring of 2022, there will be parliamentary elections in Hungary. The stakes in these elections are huge because, despite all the anti-democratic measures taken by the Hungarian ruling party, there is a real chance that Viktor Orbán will be replaced,” she said.

She claims that “the phones of journalists, students, lawyers, opposition politicians have been hacked and silenced. That is why we need the establishment of an independent European committee of inquiry and the hearing and prosecution of Viktor Orbán in the European Parliament. We must prevent further destruction of the rule of law”.

A previous inquiry into suspected European facilitation of CIA “black sites” provided a model for the cross-party panel, which will seek testimony from member states’ intelligence services, elected legislators, and senior officials.
A previous inquiry into suspected European facilitation of CIA “black sites” provided a model for the cross-party panel, which will seek testimony from member states’ intelligence services, elected legislators, and senior officials.

Since a group of media organizations reported that Pegasus software was being used against journalists, activists, and politicians in a number of nations around the world, including Europe, the action is the most important yet from Brussels.

The committee will provide a report to national governments and the European Commission after its investigation is completed.

The European Union has not yet set a date for the probe to begin, but after conversations regarding rule of law compliance in countries such as Poland and Hungary, the investigations appear to be imminent.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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