Members of the European parliament are to urge that Brussels be given “federal-style” powers to enforce laws aimed at curbing improper use of spyware, following concerns that member states often have little incentive to follow the rules.
Sophie in ’t Veld, a Dutch MEP overseeing a report to be published on November 8 into how the technology is used, also wants more powers given to Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency. It currently can only operate with the consent of member states.
In March, MEPs set up a committee to investigate the use in the bloc of Israeli spyware company NSO’s Pegasus and other surveillance technology. Two months later, it emerged that Pegasus spyware was used to hack the mobile phones of senior officials, including that of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez — the first confirmed use against a serving head of government.