Spyware Targets MEP Investigating Pegasus Abuses

Published: 03 July 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The pervasive nature of modern digital surveillance has reached a disturbing new milestone today. New evidence reveals that sophisticated spyware was used against a European lawmaker recently. This shocking development occurred while the official investigated serious Pegasus software abuses. Researchers at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto uncovered this intrusion. They conducted an extensive forensic analysis of devices belonging to the target. Their findings highlight how vulnerable even the highest public offices remain today. The target of this digital attack was Stelios Kouloglou, a former MEP. Mr. Kouloglou served as a dedicated member of the European parliament until 2024. He gained significant recognition for his role in the special Pega committee. This committee was established specifically to investigate widespread spyware use across European borders. The investigation into his device revealed that he was targeted on multiple occasions. These digital incursions occurred during sensitive periods of the committee’s official parliamentary work. The researchers could not definitively attribute the attacks to a specific state actor. However, the technical signatures identified during the analysis are deeply concerning to experts. These digital footprints match previous campaigns against journalists exiled from Russia and Belarus. The sophistication of these attacks suggests a well-funded government operator behind the scenes. Mr. Kouloglou reflected on the discovery with a mix of anger and concern. He described the invasion of his private life as a significant democratic failing. He emphasized that the situation touches upon deep issues of corruption and justice. The personal nature of the intrusion feels like a targeted attempt to silence dissent. His work for the Pega committee put him in a very difficult position. This committee was formed following the explosive revelations of the global Pegasus Project. That earlier investigation exposed how governments frequently misused this intrusive software against citizens. Journalists, activists, and various political figures were often caught in this broad net. The Pega committee’s primary mission was to evaluate spyware compliance with European law. Mr. Kouloglou joined this crucial committee during the spring of two thousand twenty two. His device first showed signs of infection several months into his busy tenure. The initial breach occurred on the twenty first of October in that same year. This specific date aligns with an intense period of internal committee deliberations. The team was actively drafting their first major report during those critical autumn weeks. The timing suggests the attackers were closely monitoring the progress of the inquiry. Researchers noted that the hacking activity seemed designed to gather sensitive internal information. NSO Group, the developer of Pegasus, declined to respond to any press inquiries. The company maintains that its product is intended only for fighting serious crimes. However, the evidence in this case paints a much darker and more complex picture. Another significant breach occurred during a time of personal vulnerability for the politician. Mr. Kouloglou was admitted to a hospital for an elective surgery at that time. He received a visit from Thanasis Koukakis, a prominent Greek investigative journalist then. Mr. Koukakis had been working tirelessly on mercenary spyware stories in his home country. His own device had previously been targeted during the infamous Greek Watergate scandal. That scandal involved the illegal surveillance of over eighty people within the nation. The list of victims included military officials, journalists, and various high ranking politicians. Mr. Koukakis had provided testimony before the Pega committee regarding his harrowing experience. The coincidence of his visit and the hack is highly suspicious to observers. The device belonging to Mr. Kouloglou was compromised again in early March twenty twenty three. This was a time when the committee engaged in very intensive report discussions. The hacking activity coincided with his travel schedule between Athens and Brussels city. These repeated infections demonstrate a persistent effort to monitor his parliamentary activities daily. Citizen Lab confirmed this is the first known case of a Pega member being targeted. This revelation arrives at a moment when committee recommendations are essentially being ignored. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the lab, voiced his severe concerns today. He described the case as the ultimate irony of Europe’s ongoing spyware crisis. An official tasked with investigating these specific tools becomes a victim of them. The parliament has largely looked away as new digital abuses continue to emerge. He warned that the next chapter will likely involve even more hacked parliamentarians. Many members probably attend high level meetings while their phones are being compromised. Their devices essentially become silent spies sitting comfortably inside their own suit pockets. The researchers could not identify the specific government client using the spyware today. They did, however, find strong links to other attacks occurring across Europe. Seven Russian and Belarusian journalists living in exile were also targeted by hackers. The team identified a unique Apple ID email used in these various attacks. This shared identifier strongly suggests a single government client is behind these operations. The mystery client likely holds active licenses to operate in Belgium and Greece. This geographical reach illustrates the dangerous expansion of digital surveillance tools across borders. The implications for democratic integrity and personal privacy remain profoundly unsettling for everyone. Lawmakers are now questioning how the union can protect itself from these threats. The silence from relevant authorities has only served to fuel further public suspicion. Digital security experts are calling for a complete overhaul of current oversight mechanisms. Without urgent intervention, the risk of future surveillance against elected officials will grow. The case of Mr. Kouloglou stands as a stark warning to all leaders. Privacy, once lost to state sponsored spyware, is nearly impossible to ever fully recover. The struggle between digital security and government oversight will define the coming years. European citizens deserve to know that their elected representatives are free from coercion. Whether the authorities will act remains the most pressing question for the future. For now, the report serves as a haunting reminder of our digital vulnerability. The tech industry must face greater accountability for the tools they create and sell. Transparency is the only pathway forward in this increasingly dark digital landscape today. Every democracy must prioritize the protection of its citizens from these unseen threats. The story of this digital breach is far from reaching its final conclusion. More evidence will surely come to light as investigations continue to unfold globally. We must remain vigilant against those who would abuse technology to destroy democracy.

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