Poland launches inquiry into previous government's use of Pegasus spyware

Poland has launched an investigation into its previous government's use of the controversial spyware Pegasus, with a parliamentary inquiry under way and the possibility of criminal charges being brought against former government officials.

- Shaun Walker

Adam Bodnar, Poland's new justice minister, told the Guardian that in coming months the government would notify people who were targeted with Pegasus. Under Polish law, they would then have the possibility of seeking financial compensation, and becoming party to potential criminal proceedings. "There is a decent chance that within a couple of months we'll have quite extensive knowledge how this equipment was used and for what purpose," he said.

On the possibility of legal action, Bodnar added: "We don't know who will be accused... if the investigation goes into the direction of accusing some persons, some ministers or officers of the security services." Pegasus is a powerful tool designed by the Israeli company NSO Group. It is capable of taking control of a target's mobile phone, accessing data from secure messaging apps and even turning the device into a recorder.

In 2021, a consortium of media outlets including the Guardian accessed a data leak that showed thousands of phone numbers had been targeted by Pegasus in various countries. It also revealed that the spyware tool had been used against media and civil society in numerous places, including in Hungary under the prime minister, Viktor Orbán.