Politics · Other · 3 hrs ago
Tusk says former Polish government used Pegasus to target opponents
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a parliamentary inquiry found the former government used Pegasus to spy on opposition politicians and members of the legal system.
The government was led by the nationalist-conservative Law and Justice party, which paid $7.65 million for the spyware.
Tusk said the data collected was accessible to Israel's NSO Group, which makes Pegasus, and was not fully under Poland's control.
Pegasus can enter phones and collect messages, photos, calls and other data.
Former officials, including ex-Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, deny wrongdoing and say the software was used for national security with judicial approval.
The inquiry's head said approving judges did not fully understand Pegasus's capabilities, raising concerns about surveillance of political opponents and citizens' private data.
Donald Tusk said the previous Polish government used Pegasus spyware to target opposition politicians and members of the judicial system.
He said a two-year parliamentary investigation found that the Law and Justice party allowed Israel access to data collected by the software.
The party’s governments paid $7.65 million for Pegasus, according to the report.
Tusk said the data was accessible to Israeli company NSO Group and was not fully under the Polish government’s control.
Former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro and other former senior officials deny wrongdoing and say the software was used for national security with judicial authorisation.
- Who
- Prime Minister Donald Tusk made the allegations about the former Law and Justice government.
- What
- Tusk said Pegasus was used to surveil opposition politicians and members of the judicial system. He said data collected was accessible to Israel.
- When
- Tusk made the statements on Monday, 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Poland.
- Why
- The former government said Pegasus was essential for national security. Tusk said the surveillance and access to citizens’ data raised serious concerns.
Donald Tusk and parliamentary inquiry
Former Law and Justice officials
Use of Pegasus
Donald Tusk and parliamentary inquiry
Tusk said the previous government used Pegasus to target opposition politicians and members of the judicial system.
Former Law and Justice officials
Former officials deny wrongdoing and say the spyware was used for national security.
Authorisation and oversight
Donald Tusk and parliamentary inquiry
The head of the parliamentary inquiry said judges who approved Pegasus did not fully understand its surveillance capabilities.
Former Law and Justice officials
Former officials say its use had judicial authorisation.
Access to data
Donald Tusk and parliamentary inquiry
Tusk said Israel could access data collected by Pegasus and that the Polish government did not have full control over it.
Former Law and Justice officials
Not stated.
Pegasus was reportedly acquired by the Polish government.
Media reports said the spyware was actively used during this period.
Media reports said Pegasus was deployed during the elections.
After taking office, Tusk’s coalition opened investigations into claims about the purchase and use of Pegasus.
Tusk spoke about the findings of a two-year parliamentary investigation.
- Cost
- $7.65 million
- Software
- Pegasus spyware
- Polish governing party
- Law and Justice (PiS)
- Company behind Pegasus
- NSO Group
- Investigation
- Two years
- Alleged targets
- Opposition politicians and members of the judicial system
What people are saying
Imagine that the people responsible for justice and national security [in Poland] handed over thousands, tens of thousands, of sensitive details about Polish citizens to a foreign country, Israel, without having any control over it,
Sources
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