Spyware found on phone of European Parliament member probing it
Spyware from NSO Group's Pegasus was found on the phone of a European Parliament member who is part of a committee investigating the use of surveillance spyware. The discovery raises concerns about the targeting of officials looking into such technologies.
Background
- The **Pegasus spyware**, made by Israeli firm NSO Group, infects smartphones to read messages, capture photos, record calls, and turn on microphones without the user knowing. It is sold only to governments.
- A **European Parliament member leading the "Pega Committee"** — a special inquiry investigating Pegasus use in EU countries — had her own phone infected, suggesting those under investigation may have spied on the investigator.
- The Pega Committee was formed in 2022 after reports that multiple EU states (Hungary, Poland, Spain, Greece) used Pegasus to surveil journalists, lawyers, and political opponents. NSO says it sells to vetted agencies for crime/terrorism, but the tool has been repeatedly tied to human rights abuses.