WORLD NEWS | EU lawmakers warn Hungary, Poland of spyware abuse

BRUSSELS, May 8 (AP) – European Union lawmakers investigating the abuse of Pegasus spyware by opposition politicians and journalists in Hungary and Poland on Tuesday expressed deep concern and regretted the lack of cooperation in their investigations.

Spyware developed by Israeli cyber intelligence firm NSO has been used around the world to hack into the phones and computers of politicians, human rights activists, journalists and even Catholic clergy. It is said to be only available to government agencies.

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Cyber ​​sleuths have found traces of Pegasus or other spyware in Poland, Hungary, Spain and Greece. But after a year-long investigation, members of the European Parliament say they have been unable to produce conclusive evidence.

“Do we have evidence? No, because no authorities are cooperating,” said Sophie Int Veld, a member of the Dutch Freedom Party who helped lead the investigation.

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In’t Veld said lawmakers suspected but could not prove that Greece exported the Predator spyware to Cyprus, which then shipped it to Sudan, amid fighting between the military led by General Abdel since April 15. More than 600 people have been killed in the attack – Fattah Burhan and a rival paramilitary group.

Dutch conservative MP Jeroen Lenaers said Poland’s far-right government’s refusal to cooperate appeared to be “part of a wider approach to suppress any dissent in Poland, which is very worrying”.

In their final report, the lawmakers said Poland’s use of Pegasus was “part of a system to monitor the opposition and critics of the government – designed to keep the ruling majority and the government in power”.

They argued that the use of spyware in Hungary was “part of a planned and strategic campaign by the government to undermine media freedom and freedom of expression”. Hungary’s justice minister has repeatedly rejected requests for talks.

Lawmakers said they sent questionnaires to authorities in the 27 EU member states, but few returned “relevant information”.

Some countries, including the Netherlands, did not reply at all. Others declined to provide information on national security grounds.

“The misuse of spyware has nothing to do with national security,” In’t Veld said. She also worries about where victims might go for help when authorities are accused of espionage. “So far, not a single case has been served with justice. Not a single one,” she said.

NSO has been subject to export restrictions by the US federal government, which has accused the company of “transnational repression”. Major tech companies including Apple and WhatsApp owner Meta have also taken NSO to court. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)