"It's a scandal"; Poland, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Austria... Russia

"It's a scandal"; Poland, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Austria... Russia

"Governments of EU member states have used this software against citizens for political purposes,", this has been concluded in the published draft report, which states that there are indications that Poland, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus and Spain have done so.

Austria is also criticized because the former Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz has close ties with the owner of the Israeli company NSO Group, which developed "Pegasus".

In addition, the report states that the headquarters of the company DSIRF (Decision Supporting Information Research and Forensic), which is considered a provider of software for espionage, is located in Austria, and high officials of that company have, as stated in the report, contacts with Russia and the Kremlin.

"The development of 'spyware' in the EU member states is a great threat to democracy on the entire continent," emphasized the competent rapporteur of the European Parliament, the Dutch Sophia In 't Veld, according to the Austrian media.

According to her, "spyware" not only violates the rights to the private sphere, but also undermines democratic institutions and silences the opposition and critics. Also, such software, she adds, has a frightening effect on the freedom of the press and civil society, and also serves to influence elections.

"It's a European scandal", since the EU institutions were also attacked, and it also affected decision-making in the Union, claims In 't Veld. She complained that no official institution wanted to cooperate with her in the preparation of the report, and the Council of the EU did not answer the European Parliament's questions in this regard.

"That's why the picture is not complete, we only have 900 pieces of a 1.000-piece puzzle," she said. "The European Commission noisily advocates for democracy and the fight against fake news, and so it happened recently during the takeover of Twitter. But when the attacks on democracy come from within, the Commission is silent," said In 't Veld.

She said that the European Commission is showing its strength addressing Elon Musk, but it addresses the EU members who use spyware against citizens very mildly.