Poland’s new Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has made startling allegations, stating that he possesses documents that “”confirm 100%”” the prior administration’s illegal use of the Pegasus spyware. Tusk claims to have evidence proving that state authorities employed this powerful surveillance tool to track a “”very long”” list of targets. These revelations were made during a briefing with President Andrzej Duda, a political opponent of the previous administration. The use of Pegasus in Poland has been a subject of investigation since September, with a Senate commission suggesting potential criminal charges due to “”gross violations of constitutional standards”” during the 2019 elections. The chairman of the investigating committee unequivocally stated that Pegasus was used in Poland in an extremely aggressive manner.
The allegations highlight a growing concern in European democracies where commercial spyware, including Pegasus, is being used by government leaders to monitor activists, opposition figures, and journalists. Spain, Greece, and Hungary have also been implicated in similar cases. Tusk’s announcement during a meeting of Poland’s Cabinet Council raises serious questions about the impact of advanced spyware on democratic processes. The findings shared with the justice minister and prosecutor general are described as “”only a sample,”” with Tusk emphasizing that the list of victims is unfortunately extensive. The lack of public release of victims’ names adds to the complexity of the situation.
