Press conference - Protecting human rights defenders: The Pegasus Committee

PEGA - Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware - Constitutive meeting

MEPs are set to adopt recommendations to tackle and prevent spyware abuse in Europe, based on the inquiry into illicit use of Pegasus and other spyware. The recommendations set out a range of proposals, including investigations into suspected abuse; EU standards for the deploy of spyware; legal remedies for people who have been targeted; strict enforcement of the EU’s export control rules; an EU Tech Lab to conduct technical investigations; and co-ordination with third countries. Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), Rapporteur.

Pegasus spyware: closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), Rapporteur

MEPs are set to adopt recommendations to tackle and prevent spyware abuse in Europe, based on the inquiry into illicit use of Pegasus and other spyware. The recommendations set out a range of proposals, including investigations into suspected abuse; EU standards for the deploy of spyware; legal remedies for people who have been targeted; strict enforcement of the EU’s export control rules; an EU Tech Lab to conduct technical investigations; and co-ordination with third countries. First part of the debate.

Pegasus spyware: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate recommendations to tackle and prevent spyware abuse in Europe, based on the inquiry into illicit use of Pegasus and other spyware. The recommendations set out a range of proposals, including investigations into suspected abuse; EU standards for the deploy of spyware; legal remedies for people who have been targeted; strict enforcement of the EU’s export control rules; an EU Tech Lab to conduct technical investigations; and co-ordination with third countries. Opening statements by Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), Rapporteur and by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

Pegasus spyware: opening statements by Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), Rapporteur and by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

MEPs adopt recommendations based on the inquiry into illicit use of Pegasus and other spyware and its impact on democracy, civil society and the media. In a debate on Wednesday and recommendations put to the vote on Thursday, Parliament will present its proposals for tackling spyware abuse in Europe. In its final report adopted in May, the Committee of Inquiry investigating Pegasus and other spyware raised concerns about the impact of spyware abuse on democracy, civil society and the media in several EU member states. Extracts from the debate and from the vote.

Pegasus spyware: extracts from the joint debate

During its year-long mandate, the Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) commissioned studies, held hearings with experts and people targeted with spyware, and organised several fact-finding visits. Pegasus is a hacking tool designed to secretly turn mobile phonesinto 24-hour surveillance devices, as it grants complete and unrestricted access to all sensors and information of the targeted device. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL) chair of the PEGA Committee and Sophie IN 'T VELD (RE, NL), rapporteur on the adoption of the PEGA Inquiry conclusions

Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur and Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), chair of the PEGA committee, hold a press conference in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur and Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), chair of the PEGA committee on the adoption of its report and recommendations in committee

From 20 to 21 February, a delegation of ten MEPs visits Budapest, Hungary, to learn more about allegations of spyware abuse targeting journalists, the opposition and civil society. During their two-day visit, the MEPs speak with the leadership of the Hungarian National Assembly’s Committee on National Security, the President of the National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Dr. Attila Péterfalvi, journalists and NGO representatives. The visit finishes with a press conference by Jeroen LENAERS, PEGA Chair and Sophia IN'T VELD, Rapporteur.

Press conference by Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), PEGA Chair and Sophia IN'T VELD (Renew, NL), Rapporteur, following the visit of the PEGA delegation in Budapest (Hungary)

Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew Europe, NL) gives a press conference on the draft findings of EP spyware inquiry, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Active since April 2022, the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) has commissioned studies, held hearings with experts, and organised three fact-finding visits (to Israel, Poland and Greece), with more to follow. Questions and answers session with the press. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew Europe, NL), rapporteur on draft findings of EP spyware inquiry (PEGA Committee): questions and answers

Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew Europe, NL) gives a press conference on the draft findings of EP spyware inquiry, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Active since April 2022, the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) has commissioned studies, held hearings with experts, and organised three fact-finding visits (to Israel, Poland and Greece), with more to follow. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew Europe, NL), rapporteur on draft findings of EP spyware inquiry (PEGA Committee)

Active since April 2022, the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) has commissioned studies, held hearings with experts, and organised three fact-finding visits (to Israel, Poland and Greece), with more to follow. In a statement, the Committee’s rapporteur Sophie IN'T' VELD (Renew, Netherlands) presents a summary of the draft report, summarising their key findings and providing recommendations for the future. Later, she holds a press conference in the European Parliament, in Brussels.

Draft findings of EP spyware inquiry: statement by Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew Europe, NL), rapporteur and atmosphere shots from the press conference

The newly established Inquiry Committee on the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware starts its work. The committee will consider alleged breaches of EU law in the use of spyware by, among others, Hungary and Poland.

Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA): atmosphere shots of the constitutive meeting and statement

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