Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

After the Pegasus scandal, EU goes up against Predator in draft report

  • By Al Mayadeen Engish
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Nov 2022 21:04
3 Min Read

Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld still defends the usage of spyware, although she says it must be an exception and not the norm.

  • x
  • EU goes against Predator in draft report
    EU goes against Predator in the draft report.

A draft report presented to the European Parliament on Tuesday indicated that spyware has been "illegitimately" used for surveillance purposes in at least four EU nations, including Greece, Spain, Poland, and Hungary.

Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld, the leading lawmaker handling the report, said at a press briefing, "The abuse of spyware in EU member states is a grave threat to democracy on the entire continent."

The MEP asserted that placing people under surveillance ought to be an exception in a democracy further noting that "it should not be possible to abuse it for political purposes ... or for the purposes of hanging on to power, manipulating elections, or for the purposes of covering up corruption."

“The abuse of spyware in EU MS is a grave threat to democracy on the entire continent & just at the time when we need democracy more than ever” @SophieintVeld, rapporteur on @EP_PegaInquiry draft report at today's press conference

🎥Watch & download: https://t.co/zuYOgCQLo6 pic.twitter.com/EC4fIzpJnu

— European Parliament Audiovisual Service (@europarlAV) November 8, 2022

National governments, said In 't Veld, should "be accountable to the citizens, be accountable to the public, you know, be accountable to the persons which have been illegitimately targeted."

The topic has gained more attention in the EU legislature as proof of various nations, particularly EU member states, employing spyware installed on people's mobile phones to covertly monitor their conversations has accumulated. 

Spain's spy director was fired in May for his participation in a scandal involving the hacking of lawmakers' and Catalan separatist leaders' cell phones.

Related News

Massive leak exposes personal data of thousands of Israeli soldiers

Israeli NSO, not government clients, controls spyware operations

In past months, the Israeli NSO Group's Pegasus spyware, which was marketed to governments all around the world, has triggered a ripple effect of discussions regarding the risks of such tools.

More recently, Greece's government has come under fire in Europe over claims that it tried to spy on the head of the opposition using software named Predator.

As a result, the close advisor to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the country's head of intelligence were obliged to quit.

It is also worth noting that following their discovery that malware had also targeted them, Greek journalists have also filed a lawsuit.

In 't Veld stated that "spyware is an integral element of a system ... designed to control and even oppress the citizens" in Poland and Hungary, whose administrations have been in conflict with Brussels' concept of the rule of law.

The Dutch MEP also claimed that Cyprus was "the center for exports of malware," noting that there was a need for a closer examination given the evidence that spyware was being deployed there.

The report put forward also proposed a moratorium on the purchase, transfer, and use of spyware in the EU, which would only be lifted on an individual basis in cases where well-established national security justifications exist.

The approval of the parliamentary report on spyware will be presented to a vote after it is finished, which is not anticipated to happen before March 2023.

Read more: Predator; another Israeli spyware used to hack Greek official's phone

  • spyware
  • Predator
  • Pegasus

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS