Poland’s ruling Law and Justice under fire over Israeli made spyware product purchase
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Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is under fire for having allegedly bought an Israeli-made spyware product named Pegasus that critics say could be used against political adversaries and journalists.
It’s the latest in a series of scandals that have plagued PiS in recent weeks ahead of a national election October 13. PiS, which remains unchallenged in the polls, hopes to sweep the vote to ensure a second term in office.
In September 2018, private broadcaster TVN24 reported that Poland’s state audit body, NIK, was questioning an outlay of over 33 million zloty (€7.6 million euro) by the Justice Fund, a government fund to help victims of crime.
According to TVN, the money went toward the purchase of a “new system to spy on telephones and computers, the most expensive system in the history of Polish secret services.” Reports that the covertly purchased system could be Pegasus — a top-performing spyware that is impossible to track — surfaced last week.
TVN24 also alleged that the CBA anti-corruption body had received money to buy spyware from the Justice Fund, as indicated by the state auditor. That would be illegal because CBA can only be financed directly from the state’s budget.
