Calls for EU to Strengthen Spyware Regulations Amid Pegasus Scandal

A European parliament special committee has called for tighter regulation of the spyware industry in the EU, following revelations that Hungary and Poland used surveillance software to illegally monitor journalists, politicians, and activists. The committee voted for a temporary ban on the sale, acquisition, and use of spyware while the bloc draws up common EU standards based on international law. The report found that Hungary and Poland had “weakened and eliminated” safeguards on spyware, “effectively leaving victims without any meaningful remedy”. The recommendations are expected to be approved by the full European parliament in June.