Ethical Hacking News
The use of spyware has become a serious concern in Europe, with many victims left with little accountability and transparency. The cases of Greece, Spain, Hungary, and Italy highlight the failures of European law enforcement agencies to address these issues. The abuse of spyware has created a worldwide pattern of abuse, silencing victims and weakening democratic accountability. This article delves into the shocking world of spyware abuse, highlighting the need for greater transparency and a way to identify who orders and conducts surveillance.
European governments and intelligence agencies have abused their power using spyware, with many victims facing years of legal battles and little accountability.The use of spyware has created a worldwide pattern of abuse, silencing victims and weakening democratic accountability.Europe lacks effective safeguards and oversight, making it difficult to identify who orders and conducts surveillance.The cases of Greece, Spain, Hungary, and Italy highlight the failures of European law enforcement agencies to address spyware abuse.Victims often face barriers in seeking justice, with many citing "national security" as the reason for their inability to access information about their surveillance.Experts call for greater transparency and accountability, including the ability to identify the end user of spyware products.The use of spyware can be useful in addressing real threats, but it requires proper regulation and oversight to prevent abuse.
The world of espionage and surveillance has become a breeding ground for governments and intelligence agencies to abuse their power. The recent rise of spyware, particularly Predator, Pegasus, and Graphite, has left a trail of victims in its wake, many of whom have been subjected to years of legal battles and little accountability. This exposé delves into the shocking world of spyware abuse, highlighting the cases of Greece, Spain, Hungary, and Italy, and the failures of European law enforcement agencies to address these issues.
In Greece, a court finally convicted four executives linked to Intellexa, the company behind the Predator spyware, in February 2023. The executives faced prison sentences of up to eight years for illegally accessing computer systems, violating data protection rules, and breaking telecommunications privacy laws. However, their sentences were suspended while they appeal, and the investigators have not identified who ordered the surveillance. This is the first conviction of its kind in Europe, highlighting how rare such cases are.
The scandal began in 2021, when an international investigation led by Forbidden Stories revealed that dozens of European activists, politicians, and journalists had been targeted with Pegasus spyware, developed by NSO Group. The company claims to sell its products only to government intelligence and law enforcement agencies, but other spyware companies have also come under scrutiny. In 2025, Citizen Lab found Italian phone numbers among those targeted by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company that was later acquired by a US investment fund.
In Spain, victims say they have been unable even to obtain basic information about the surveillance they were subjected to, with authorities citing "national security." Rebecca White, a researcher at Amnesty International's Security Lab, calls it double victimization: first you're hit by one of the most invasive technologies in the world, then you find one dead end after another when you seek justice.
In Hungary, investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi, who has covered Russian influence on the government of Viktor Orbán, learned that he had been spied on with Pegasus for seven months in 2019. Despite his efforts to seek justice, he has found that every request has been blocked on national security grounds.
In Italy, Mediterranea Saving Humans founders Luca Casarini and Beppe Caccia, along with activist David Yambio, were targeted with Paragon's Graphite spyware. The government cited suspected facilitation of irregular immigration, while Casarini believes the real motive was their evidence of abuses against migrants in Libya and Tunisia.
The use of spyware has created a worldwide pattern of abuse, silencing victims and weakening democratic accountability. Experts argue that Europe still lacks effective safeguards and oversight. They call for greater transparency and a way to identify who orders and conducts surveillance. As Sophie in 't Veld puts it, "It is clear that they feel safe, untouchable."
The case of Poland's former justice minister, who received asylum in Hungary before moving to the US, highlights the complexities of the issue. In October 2026, a Polish parliamentary inquiry concluded that Pegasus had been purchased unlawfully and used against political opponents. However, the case remains ongoing, with Brejza still waiting for justice.
The lack of accountability and transparency in the use of spyware is a pressing concern. Governments and intelligence agencies must be held accountable for their actions, and victims must have access to justice. As Pierluigi Paganini, the author of this article, notes, "Spyware can be useful in addressing real threats, such as terrorism or crime. But we need tools that allow us to identify the end user of the product, so that, when necessary, we can trace who ordered the surveillance and who carried it out, even in real time."
In conclusion, the abuse of spyware in Europe is a serious issue that requires immediate attention and action. Governments and intelligence agencies must be held accountable for their actions, and victims must have access to justice. The time for complacency is over; it is time for transparency and accountability.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Abuse-of-Surveillance-The-Alarming-Rise-of-Spyware-in-Europe-ehn.shtml
https://securityaffairs.com/202922/malware/predator-pegasus-and-graphite-governments-accused-of-spyware-abuse-face-little-accountability.html
https://irpimedia.irpi.eu/spied-on-by-governments-with-israeli-spyware-in-europe-no-one-pays-the-price/
Published: Thu Nov 12 09:21:57 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
