Poland's prosecutor general recently disclosed to parliament that the powerful Pegasus spyware was utilized against hundreds of individuals, including elected officials, during the former government's tenure. Adam Bodnar expressed shock and dismay at the scale of surveillance, labeling it as 'shocking and depressing.' The spyware was reportedly employed in 578 cases between 2017 and 2022 by three government agencies: the Central Anticorruption Bureau, the Military Counterintelligence Service, and the Internal Security Agency.
The data revealed that Pegasus was used against six people in 2017, escalating to 162 in 2021 before abruptly stopping in 2022. The software, developed by Israel's NSO Group, grants operators complete access to mobile devices, enabling extraction of sensitive information and real-time eavesdropping.
The revelation of Pegasus' misuse in Poland sparked concerns about abuse of power and erosion of democratic principles. The Biden administration blacklisted the NSO Group in 2021 due to misuse concerns and imposed further restrictions this year. Prime Minister Donald Tusk initiated investigations into the spyware's use upon taking office in December, aiming to restore democratic norms.
Lawmakers have criticized the previous government for poisoning democracy through Pegasus' use, while the current government is striving to address judicial independence issues. The European Union had withheld funding due to concerns over the erosion of democratic values, which has since resumed following the change in government.
