Politician who investigated spyware abuses had his phone hacked with Pegasus spyware
News Source
β’Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:05:00 +0000
π° What Happened
Security researchers at Citizen Lab confirmed that a European politician had his phone hacked with Pegasus spyware. Stelios Kouloglou, a Greek journalist and former member of the European Parliament, was hacked in 2022 and 2023. At the time, he served on the PEGA committee, which investigates how European governments misuse spyware. This is the first time a member of that committee has been publicly identified as a victim. One lawmaker called it a 'direct attack on the rule of law.'
π The Backstory
Pegasus is a powerful spyware tool made by the Israeli company NSO Group. It can take over a phone, read messages, record calls, and track the user's location. Governments around the world have bought it, saying they need it to fight crime and terrorism. But investigators have found Pegasus was used to spy on journalists, human rights activists, and political opponents. The PEGA committee was set up by the European Parliament to look into these abuses. The hacking of one of its own members shows how serious the problem has become.
π― Why It Matters
If even the people investigating spyware can be hacked, then no one's phone is truly safe. This raises serious questions about government spying and personal privacy.
Security researchers at Citizen Lab confirmed that a European politician had his phone hacked with Pegasus spyware. Stelios Kouloglou, a Greek journalist and former member of the European Parliament, was hacked in 2022 and 2023. At the time, he served on the PEGA committee, which investigates how European governments misuse spyware. This is the first time a member of that committee has been publicly identified as a victim. One lawmaker called it a 'direct attack on the rule of law.'
Pegasus is a powerful spyware tool made by the Israeli company NSO Group. It can take over a phone, read messages, record calls, and track the user's location. Governments around the world have bought it, saying they need it to fight crime and terrorism. But investigators have found Pegasus was used to spy on journalists, human rights activists, and political opponents. The PEGA committee was set up by the European Parliament to look into these abuses. The hacking of one of its own members shows how serious the problem has become.
If even the people investigating spyware can be hacked, then no one's phone is truly safe. This raises serious questions about government spying and personal privacy.