A European Parliament member who helped investigate the Pegasus spyware was later found to have the surveillance tool on their own phone. The discovery was made by researchers at Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity watchdog.
The infected device belonged to a politician involved in probing the use of Pegasus across the European Union. Citizen Lab identified the breach as a direct and targeted attack using the spyware.
Pegasus, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, allows operators to access messages, calls, and microphone data on infected phones. The tool has been linked to surveillance of journalists and activists globally.
The European Parliament has been examining cases of Pegasus misuse in several member states. The investigation aims to address the threat such spyware poses to democratic institutions and individuals.
The infected politician described the breach as a direct assault on the rule of law. The finding underscores the risks faced by those who scrutinize powerful surveillance technologies.
Citizen Lab did not identify the specific politician or the suspected attacker. The group noted that the infection occurred after the politician had worked on the Pegasus inquiry.
NSO Group has repeatedly denied that its tools are used for illegal surveillance. The company says it only sells to vetted government clients for crime and terrorism prevention.
The incident has renewed calls for stricter European regulations on spyware exports and use. Some lawmakers are pushing for new laws to limit the spread of such invasive tools.
Activists argue that the breach proves no one is safe from spyware abuse. They urge governments to act quickly to protect human rights and press freedom.
The European Commission has yet to formally respond to the latest findings. The case is expected to fuel further debate in the Parliament over digital security and privacy.
