Stelios Kouloglou, a former European Parliament member, was targeted by Pegasus spyware while investigating surveillance tools on the PEGA committee. This incident highlights ongoing international concerns regarding the misuse of NSO Group's technology against political figures and journalists.
What Happened
Stelios Kouloglou, a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Greek journalist, was targeted multiple times by the Pegasus spyware between October 2022 and March 2023. According to reports from the Canadian digital watchdog Citizen Lab, these attacks occurred while Kouloglou was serving on the European Parliament’s PEGA Committee. This committee was tasked with investigating the illegal use of surveillance technology, including Pegasus, across the European Union. The spyware, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, reportedly exploited a previously unknown vulnerability in Apple devices to gain unauthorized access to the lawmaker's phone.
The NSO Group Controversy
NSO Group has long stated that its software is intended solely for government agencies to combat serious crimes and terrorism. However, the company has faced extensive global scrutiny due to repeated allegations that its technology has been used to track journalists, activists, and political opponents. The firm’s business model has drawn significant legal and regulatory pushback. In 2021, the United States government placed NSO Group on a blacklist, citing national security and human rights concerns. Additionally, Meta Platforms successfully secured a legal judgment against the company for unauthorized access to its WhatsApp service, further highlighting the ongoing tensions between NSO and major technology providers.
Impact on Tech and Privacy
The targeting of a high-profile lawmaker during an official investigation has intensified debates regarding the lack of oversight over commercial spyware. Apple, whose devices were affected by the breach, has since released security patches to address the vulnerability utilized in these attacks. The company maintains a policy of notifying users who are potentially targeted by state-sponsored cyberattacks. Despite these technical defenses, experts and lawmakers, including former PEGA committee lead Sophie in 't Veld, have warned that the rise of mercenary spyware is creating an environment where surveillance can be conducted with limited accountability, affecting citizens, non-governmental organizations, and political leaders alike.
What To Watch Next
The identity of the entity that deployed the Pegasus tool against the lawmaker remains undisclosed. Investors and those following the cybersecurity sector may continue to monitor how international regulators and technology companies respond to the proliferation of such surveillance tools. Key monitorables include potential new legislative frameworks within the European Union aimed at restricting the trade of unregulated spyware, further legal actions against surveillance firms, and the ongoing evolution of device security protocols by major hardware manufacturers to counter state-sponsored hacking threats.