Following allegations made by Poland's current prime minister in February 2024, the Polish government officially launched an investigation into the previous government's use of Pegasus spyware.
Former officials involved in the use of spyware are likely to face criminal charges, and victims could seek financial compensation and face criminal proceedings.
Pegasus is a phone-based spyware that secretly hijacks your device and provides full access to your apps and files, while also turning your device into a 24/7 tracking and eavesdropping device.
Thousands of people targeted by Pegasus
Data breaches and access in 2021 guardianthousands of phone numbers across several countries were accessed by Pegasus spyware, indicating that many news organizations were targeted by Eastern European governments, particularly Hungary's Viktor Orbán.
The Pegasus software was developed in 2011 by Israel's NSO Group for both iPhone and Android devices and can be used to remotely monitor individuals associated with terrorist groups, but it cannot be used to spy on opposition figures or media. It is often used to.
Other prominent figures believed to have been targeted using the spyware include Poland's current prime minister, Donald Tusk, and Krzysztof Breza, a member of parliament, as well as those facing criminal charges. It also includes a long list of high-profile politicians who will remain classified during the process.
Poland's Justice Minister Adam Bodnar said: “This list is much more extensive than many other interesting national lists that have already been published.”
Pegasus spyware is said to have been widely used by Poland's Law and Justice regime, which was in power from 2015 to 2023, and was released in 2021 following widespread media coverage after a data breach. The use of has subsided.
