PEGASUS SPYWARE TARGETS EU PARLIAMENT INVESTIGATOR

Citizen Lab researchers discovered that a member of the European Parliament's committee investigating spyware abuse was targeted with NSO Group's Pegasus malware. The compromise occurred during the committee's active investigation into spyware exploitation across EU institutions. Pegasus, a commercial surveillance tool, can extract messages, photos, and location data from targeted devices without user knowledge. The attack underscores the vulnerability of high-profile officials pushing for stricter regulations on invasive monitoring technologies. The incident raises critical questions about who deployed the spyware and whether state or commercial actors were involved. EU lawmakers have previously called for restrictions on Pegasus sales and investigations into unauthorized deployment by member states. Citizen Lab's findings contribute to growing evidence that spyware poses systemic risks to democratic institutions and privacy. The breach occurred as the Parliament weighs new regulations targeting surveillance tool manufacturers and their government clients.