Poland launches security service audit into use of illegal surveillance
An intensive audit is being conducted in all Poland's security services into the use of illegal surveillance procedures, the coordinator for the security services announced on Monday.
Speaking on public radio, Tomasz Siemoniak said when the audit was complete, the results would be made public.
"An intensive audit is ongoing in all (security) services, which concerns illegal surveillance, in particular with the use of the Pegasus program, or other similar instruments," Siemoniak said. "When the audit is finished, we will certainly provide information."
Poland's former ruling party, Law and Justice, has been accused by its critics of purchasing the Pegasus surveillance software from Israeli firm NSO to spy on government opponents, citing reports from Citizen Lab, a specialised unit at the University of Toronto, phone maker Apple, and Amnesty International.
Pegasus hacks into a mobile phones allowing its user to get access to information on the phones and eavesdrop on conversations.
In September, 2023, a report by the Polish Senate found that the purchase of Pegasus was illegal and that the country's current legal system does not ensure effective control over special law-enforcement services.
Presenting the report, Senator Marcin Bosacki of Civic Coalition, the dominant grouping in the new coalition government, said at the time there was no doubt that Pegasus "was being used in Poland by a body, the CBA (Central Anti-Corruption Bureau - PAP), which could be seen as political police of the ruling Law and Justice party."
Bosacki said a Senate commission had found that Pegasus had been illegally bought for "millions of zlotys" coming from the Justice Fund, which was to be used to assist victims of crime. He added that Pegasus had been used to spy on at least 12 persons in Poland, including not only politicians.
Siemoniak said on Monday that in the coming days a parliamentary investigative commission would be established to look into surveillance allegations.
"The public will certainly learn a great deal on the subject," he said. "I consider it one of the biggest scandals in Polish politics since 1990."
Siemoniak also said clarifying the issue was central to the future of Polish democracy and the rule of law.
The former government denies any illegal surveillance took place during its eight-year rule. (PAP)
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