On Thursday, 10 March, the European Parliament approved the creation of the committee of inquiry to investigate the use of the Israeli spyware Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware in the EU. This committee of inquiry, which will be composed of 38 members, will have a term of office that lasts one year, which may be extended; it was approved by 635 votes in favour with 36 against and 20 abstentions.
It will look into alleged violations of EU law, including those by Hungary and Poland, with regard to the use of surveillance software. In a press release, the European Parliament has indicated that the committee will analyse existing national legislation regulating surveillance and will verify whether Pegasus spyware was used against (for example) journalists, politicians, or lawyers for political purposes.
“It is unacceptable that governments have been targeting people with Pegasus spyware. The use of cybersurveillance tramples civil liberties and threatens democracy and the rule of law, including in Europe. We are pleased that the committee of inquiry is looking into the extent of these spying practices and which EU Member States may have used spyware to target citizens”, declared MEP Saskia Bricmont (Greens/EFA, Belgium).
Hungary and Poland acknowledged that they acquired the spyware, but they denied that it is used against political opponents or members of civil society.
Some of the Hungarian MEPs from Fidesz, in the non-attached group, abstained. The majority of the votes against this committee of inquiry came from elected representatives in the ECR group, joined by one ID MEP.
As of 10 March, the start date for this committee has yet to be communicated. Link to the decision: https://aeur.eu/f/pu (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)