EU lawmaker probes Pegasus spyware after Greek ex-MP targeted

Greek former parliamentarian Stelios Kouloglou has been identified as a target of the Pegasus spyware, according to a new analysis by Citizen Lab, the cybersecurity research group at the University of Toronto. Pegasus, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, is a sophisticated tool that can infiltrate smartphones, harvest data, and covertly activate microphones and cameras. Citizen Lab’s investigation, which examined phone logs and metadata, found that Kouloglou’s device was compromised in a manner consistent with Pegasus deployment.

The analysis indicates that the intrusion likely occurred through a malicious link or app download, a common vector used by the spyware to bypass operating‑system security measures. While the report does not disclose the exact motive behind the attack, it highlights the broader trend of state‑level actors using Pegasus to monitor political figures and journalists. Kouloglou, who served in Greece’s parliament until 2020, has publicly expressed concerns about privacy violations and the potential for political misuse of such surveillance tools.

Citizen Lab’s findings add to a growing body of evidence that Pegasus is being used to target high‑profile individuals worldwide. The group urges governments and security agencies to strengthen mobile device defenses and to increase transparency around the use of spyware. As the investigation continues, the incident underscores the need for robust safeguards against covert digital surveillance.