The report was adopted on Wednesday at the Sejm, Poland’s lower house of parliament, in Warsaw.
All six committee members present voted in favor, while three opposition lawmakers were absent.
"The evidence collected by the inquiry shows clearly that the purchase of Pegasus, its provision to Polish services and its use against opponents of the government at the time were illegal," committee chairwoman Magdalena Sroka said.
Established in January 2024, the inquiry examined the purchase and use of Pegasus by Polish authorities and security services between 2015 and 2023. Wednesday marked its 131st and final committee meeting.
The inquiry found that Pegasus was used without mandatory cybersecurity accreditation and that information obtained through surveillance could have been accessed outside Poland, particularly by its Israeli manufacturer, NSO Group.
It also concluded that courts authorizing surveillance were not informed of the software’s full capabilities.
Pegasus can intercept communications, extract emails, photographs and recordings, and remotely activate a smartphone’s camera and microphone. The system cost PLN 33.4 million (EUR 7.65 million) and was financed through Poland’s Justice Fund, which was established to assist crime victims, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Research by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab previously identified Pegasus surveillance targeting opposition politicians, including Krzysztof Brejza, during the government of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.
The committee has submitted 10 reports of suspected criminal offenses involving 11 people to prosecutors. Among those identified in its investigation are former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, former Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński and former Deputy Justice Minister Michał Woś.
Wednesday’s vote took place without PiS lawmakers Mariusz Gosek and Sebastian Łukaszewicz or Przemysław Wipler of the right-wing Confederation party.
Gosek questioned the inquiry’s legitimacy, citing a September 2024 Constitutional Tribunal ruling that found its mandate unconstitutional.
The committee rejected the ruling’s effect on its work and continued its investigation.
The dispute forms part of a prolonged conflict over Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, whose composition and authority have been challenged amid wider disagreements over judicial reforms introduced under PiS.
Opposition committee members have until November 5 to submit dissenting opinions. After that, the lower-house Speaker will set a date for lawmakers to consider both the public and classified sections of the report.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR/PAP