On Tuesday, a new report released by the European parliament painted a grim picture of the European Union democracy by detailing the increasing use of mercenary spyware, Pegasus. In the past 18 months, four EU countries – Hungary, Poland, Spain and Greece have been accused of using spyware or equivalent technology against their citizens.
Reports suggest that the software developed by the Israeli-based company NSO Group, Pegasus, and its less sophisticated version, Predator are some of the most well-known brands in Europe. Once this spyware infiltrates a device it can extract data and allow real-time surveillance, find passwords, track location and even activate its camera or microphone to gather information about its owner.
While the company claims that this software was designed to fight crime and terrorism, investigators have found that it is being used on journalists, activists, dissents as well as politicians across the world.
ALSO WATCH: Explainer: What is Pegasus spyware? How does it hack into your phone to spy on you?
Speaking at a press conference, Dutch EU lawmaker Sophie in ‘t Veld presented the draft version of the report and said that in countries like Poland and Hungary the use of such spyware is an “integral element” of a system that is designed to “control and even oppress the citizens” which often include “critics of the government, opposition, journalists, whistleblowers.”
In some cases, the spyware also leads to illegitimate surveillance which is often based on vague justifications while the exemption of national security is repeatedly invoked in order to dodge accountability as well as maintain secrecy. In this context, the report says, the “rule of law turns into law of the ruler.”
The liberal lawmaker who acted as rapporteur said that her team was forced to rely on publicly available resources as the EU governments refused to cooperate, “The spyware scandal is not a series of isolated national cases of abuse, but a full-blown European affair,” said the report.
ALSO READ: Israel to probe allegations of Pegasus spyware use against own citizens
Furthermore, in addition to the four aforementioned countries, the report also puts Cyprus under suspicion for the use of spyware. While Poland and Hungary have witnessed at least over a dozen cases of journalists and political opponents being illegally targeted, Greece has also been caught amid an escalating espionage scandal.
According to a separate report by Politico, at least 33 people in Greece including the phones of journalists, business people and lawmakers of the conservative New Democracy government, their families as well as the politicians of the main opposition Syriza party, had traces of the illegal spyware Predator on their devices.
Meanwhile, in Spain, the spyware was detected on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s phone and the devices of several other national ministers as well as Catalan lawmakers, lawyers and civil society organisations. Earlier this year, a number of Catalan lawmakers had alleged that Spain’s intelligence authorities had used Pegasus software to hack their phones.
The fallout of the Pegasus scandal also resulted in the ouster of Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles, earlier this year. Meanwhile, in Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was forced to issue an apology as well as announced the plans to ban the spyware technology amid mounting pressure.
ALSO READ: Pegasus spyware strikes again in Mexico despite government’s assurances: Report
Similarly, the Dutch EU lawmaker has also called for an immediate suspension of such spyware until proper regulation measures are in place. She also claimed that all 27 EU countries have spyware at their disposal even if they refused to admit it. The report alleges that countries like Cyprus and Bulgaria have acted as export hubs for this spyware.
“Europe has been the hub for exports to dictatorships and oppressive regimes, such as Libya, Egypt and Bangladesh,” said the report. During the conference, ‘t Veld also acknowledged that these findings were largely based on the work of journalists and investigators and not confirmed by governments.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.
