Poland’s ruling Law and Justice under fire over Israeli made spyware product purchase

cde.news desk 7 September 2019, 13:50 · 1 min read

epa07608614 (L-R) Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieck and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel react during the round table of a special EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, 28 May 2019. Two days after the European Parliament elections, EU heads of state or government will gather for a summit to discuss the outcome of the vote and start the nomination process for the heads of the EU institutions. EPA-EFE/Francisco Seco / POOL

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.

Via Politico / TVN

Topics Israel Poland