Poland's Government Investigates Pegasus Spyware Use

Following allegations by Poland’s current Prime Minister in February 2024, the Polish government has formally launched an investigation into the use of Pegasus spyware by the previous administration. Former officials involved in the spyware's use may face criminal charges, with victims possibly entitled to financial compensation and participation in criminal proceedings. Pegasus is a phone-based spyware that surreptitiously hijacks the device, providing full access to apps and files, while also converting the device into a 24/7 tracking and listening device. In a 2021 data leak accessed by the Guardian, thousands of telephone numbers across multiple countries were targeted by the Pegasus spyware. Various governments in Eastern Europe, particularly Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, targeted media outlets using the spyware. Developed in 2011 by the Israeli NSO group for iPhone and Android, Pegasus can be used to remotely surveil individuals related to terrorist groups, but has been more commonly used to spy on opposition figures and media. Notable individuals targeted with the spyware include Poland’s current prime minister, Donald Tusk, and MEP Krzysztof Brejza, among others. Adam Bodnar, Poland’s justice minister, indicated the existence of a list significantly broader than the already known one, encompassing many other prominent public figures.