PanaTimes

Sunday, Mar 26, 2023

Pegasus scandal: governments remain silent while Brussels looks away

Pegasus scandal: governments remain silent while Brussels looks away

European Parliament members put pressure on the European Commission (EC) during a plenary debate on Thursday regarding the Pegasus surveillance scandal. Speaking representatives questioned the EU supervisory and executive body for passively watching as member states refuse to cooperate with the parliament's ad hoc committee (PEGA) investigating the use of spyware. The EC cited limitations to its jurisdiction, which many members of the parliamentary body questioned.
Jeroen Lenaers, the chair of PEGA, criticized the fact that out of the 27 questionnaires sent last summer, which contained questions about the use, legal regulation, prior authorization, and subsequent control of spyware, only ten member states responded.

Representatives from the Hungarian and Polish governments refused to meet with the investigating committee's delegation, which the Dutch Christian Democrat politician called scandalous. His compatriot, liberal Sophie in't Veld, stated that both member states and the European Commission are complicit in protecting the destruction of democracy.

She criticized the Commission for not launching proceedings against countries that repeatedly violate EU law.

In contrast, Hungarian Fidesz representative Schaller-Baross Ernő argued during the debate that the European Parliament oversteps its bounds when it investigates matters of national security, produces reports, or organizes visits to Hungary.

Mairead McGuinness, the Commissioner responsible for financial services, did not ease the critics' concerns when she repeated the EC's position, stating: that the Commission will continue to monitor the situation and hold member states accountable for any breaches of EU law. However, her response was met with skepticism by some representatives, who called for more concrete actions to be taken in response to the Pegasus scandal.

Overall, the debate highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the use of Pegasus spyware by governments around the world, and the role that the European Union and its member states should play in regulating its use.

While some representatives argue that the EU should take a more proactive stance in protecting democracy and human rights, others believe that national security concerns should take precedence over EU oversight.

As the Pegasus scandal continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the EU will navigate this complex and contentious issue.
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanaTimes
Close
0:00
0:00
Powell: Silicon Valley Bank was an 'outlier'
Bordeaux town hall set on fire in France pro democracy protest
Police violence in Paris
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
The US government has charged Chinese businessman Guo Wengui with leading a $1 billion fraud scheme that cheated thousands of followers out of their money.
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
"Will Fly Wherever International Law Allows": US Warns Russia After Drone Incident
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
Drew Barrymore
China is calling out the US, UK, and Australia on their submarine pact, claiming they are going further down a dangerous road
A brief banking situation report
Lady bites police officer and gets instantly reaction
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
Fitness scam
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
Senator Tom Cotton: If the Mexican Government Won’t Stop Cartels from Killing Americans, Then U.S. Government Should
Banking regulators close SVB, the largest bank failure since the financial crisis
Silicon Valley Bank: Struggles Threaten Tech Startup Ecosystem"
Man’s penis amputated by mistake after he’s wrongly diagnosed with a tumour
In a major snub to Downing Street's Silicon Valley dreams, UK chip giant Arm has dealt a serious blow to the government's economic strategy by opting for a US listing
It's the question on everyone's lips: could a four-day workweek be the future of employment?
Is Gold the Ultimate Safe Haven Asset in Times of Uncertainty?
Spain officials quit over trains that were too wide for tunnels...
Corruption and Influence Buying Uncovered in International Mainstream Media: Investigation Reveals Growing Disinformation Mercenaries
Givenchy Store in New York Robbed of $50,000 in Merchandise
European MP Clare Daly condemns US attack on Nord Stream
Former U.S. President Carter will spend his remaining time at home and receive hospice care instead of medication
Tucker Carlson called Trump a 'demonic force'
Kamala Harris: "The United States has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity."
US Joins 15 NATO Nations in Largest Space Data Collection Initiative in History
White House: No ETs over the United States
U.S. Jet Shoots Down Flying Object Over Canada
Nord Stream terror attack: David Sacks breaks down Sy Hersh's story
Being a Tiktoker might be expensive…
Miracle: El Salvador Search and Rescue teams, with the support of Turkish teams, rescued a woman and a child from the rubble 150 hours after the earthquake
SpaceX, the private space exploration company, made a significant breakthrough in their mission to reach space.
China's top tech firms, including Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, NetEase, and JD.com, are developing their own versions of Open AI's AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT
This shocking picture, showing how terrible is the results of the earthquake in Turkey
President Joe Biden delivered the 2023 State of the Union Address , in order to help Americans that missed the 2022 speech, do not have internet, and suffer from short memory.
×