Inquiry into alleged spyware misuse by former Polish government begins

Poland initiates a parliamentary investigation into former government’s alleged use of Pegasus spyware against political adversaries and internal critics

Poland’s parliamentary committee has launched an inquiry into the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government’s alleged use of Pegasus spyware.

This bipartisan investigation scrutinizes the reasons and legality behind the PiS’ acquisition and deployment of Israeli spyware, particularly targeting political rivals and suspected dissenters within its own ranks.

Key PiS officials, including leader Jarosław Kaczyński, face questioning in this high-profile inquiry. Others summoned to testify are former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, and former Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński.

Reports suggest the PiS government used the spyware to monitor the phones of opposition figures, journalists, and its members, sparking debates about democratic principles.

Magdalena Sroka, from the ruling coalition’s Third Way group, leads the committee. It aims to reveal who authorized the spyware’s use and scrutinizes the funding of its purchase. Allegedly, the government diverted 25 million zloty ($6.2 million) from the Justice Fund, meant for crime victims, to buy Pegasus.

The European Parliament and Polish Senate have previously criticized the spyware’s use as illegal, focusing on its role in surveilling government critics and casting doubt on the fairness of the 2019 elections.

Adam Bodnar, the new Justice Minister, has publicly expressed shock at the hacking’s extent. Meanwhile, PiS leaders maintain that they used the spyware legally for national security purposes.

Source: Newsroom