The Israeli company NOS sold its Pegasus spyware “to 14 Member States using export licences issued by the Israeli government”, said Sophie in 't Veld (Renew Europe, Dutch), rapporteur of the European Parliament's PEGA Committee of Inquiry into the use of the controversial software in the EU, on Wednesday 20 July.
The MEP took part in a mission to Israel from 18 to 20 July along with 8 other elected representatives. “This visit has given us new insights, particularly into the lack of effectiveness of safeguards against abuse, and it has reinforced our belief that the EU needs much stricter regulations regarding the sale, purchase and use of spyware”, she added.
The MEPs, who come from all European Parliament groups, met with representatives of the government, the Knesset, experts and civil society, as well as the manufacturer of the Pegasus spyware, NSO Group. The PEGA Committee will draw conclusions from this visit at a later date.
Invited on 22 June to present the Pegasus software, the NOS data protection officer mentioned contracts with 5 Member States, some of which had already been ended, he said, without mentioning any names (see EUROPE 12977/20). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)