Ethical Hacking News
EU subsidies for spyware companies have raised concerns about governance, transparency, and accountability. Experts and human rights organizations are calling for greater oversight and regulation of the use of surveillance technologies, including commercial spyware.
Several European countries have funneled millions of euros in taxpayer funding to support commercial spyware-makers. The EU Commission has been accused of failing to adequately address the issue, sparking criticism for its lack of communication on the matter. The use of spyware has been linked to numerous human rights abuses across Europe and beyond. A group of MEPs has written to senior commissioners demanding answers about why EU subsidies are ending up in the pockets of spyware companies. Experts and human rights organizations have welcomed the MEPs' calls for action, arguing that a full ban on commercial spyware in the EU is needed.
The European Union's (EU) funding programs have been under scrutiny recently for their potential role in supporting the development and deployment of spyware companies. While the EU has taken steps to regulate the use of certain surveillance technologies, a growing number of concerns have been raised about the presence of spyware vendors among the recipients of EU subsidies.
According to recent investigations by the non-profit organization Follow The Money (FTM), several European countries, including Italy, Greece, Hungary, and Spain, have funneled millions of euros in taxpayer funding to support commercial spyware-makers. This has sparked a debate about the governance, transparency, and accountability of the EU's funding mechanisms.
The European Commission has been accused of failing to adequately address the issue, with some arguing that it is "fanning the flames" of the problem by not taking sufficient action to prevent the misuse of EU subsidies for malicious purposes. The Commission's lack of communication on the matter has also been criticized by experts and human rights organizations, who have long documented the risks associated with spyware.
The use of spyware has been linked to numerous human rights abuses across Europe and beyond. In some cases, governments have used these technologies to monitor and suppress political opposition, as well as to cover up corruption and criminal activity. The PEGA inquiry, which was launched in 2022 following reports of several EU governments using NSO Group's Pegasus spyware, highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of surveillance technologies.
In response to these concerns, a group of 39 MEPs has written to senior commissioners, demanding answers about why EU subsidies are ending up in the pockets of spyware companies. They have asked for greater transparency over how EU funds are distributed, as well as assurances that measures will be taken to prevent the misuse of EU subsidies for malicious purposes.
Experts and human rights organizations have welcomed the MEPs' calls for action, arguing that the use of commercial spyware is inherently incompatible with fundamental rights and should be banned. The European Digital Rights (EDRi) organization has stated that the lack of action by the Commission on this issue is "appalling and dangerous," and that a full ban on commercial spyware in the EU is needed.
The controversy surrounding EU subsidies for spyware companies highlights the need for greater oversight and regulation of the use of surveillance technologies. As the European Union continues to grapple with the challenges posed by these issues, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that EU funding programs are used responsibly and in a way that supports human rights and democracy.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/EU-Subsidies-Fueling-European-Spyware-Industry-A-Threat-to-Democracy-and-Human-Rights-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/10/02/eu_spyware_funding/
Published: Thu Oct 2 09:09:41 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
