According to AFP, Pegasus Spyware had been used “illegitimately” in at least four EU countries (Poland, Hungary, Greece, and Spain), wrote an interim report by the European Parliament issued Tuesday, which called for a “moratorium” on these technologies.
Dutch MEP Sophie in’t Veld (Renew Europe Party) stated in a press conference: “The misuse of spyware in EU member states is a serious threat to democracy for the whole continent”.
The deputy added that, in democratic countries, putting people under surveillance should be the exception, and it should not be allowed to misuse it for political, partisan purposes.
She deplored that in many cases, member states refused to share official information with the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry, which had to base its work on other sources, including journalistic investigations.
“In Poland and Hungary, we see that the spyware (Pegasus) is an integral part of a system designed to control and even oppress notably citizens criticizing governments,” Sophie in’t Veld said.
In Greece, where the parliamentary committee called on Friday for “an urgent and thorough investigation” into the said spyware. She went on to say that “In Spain, there are strong indications that political figures and others have been spied on without any proof of an obvious and imminent threat to national security”.
The interim report will be discussed and amended in the PEGA Committee by the different political groups.