Former EU Lawmaker Who Investigated Spyware Allegedly Hacked With Israeli Pegasus Tool
Former European Parliament member and veteran Greek journalist Stelios Kouloglou was allegedly targeted multiple times with the controversial Pegasus spyware while serving on a European Union committee investigating illegal surveillance practices, according to a newly released report.
The findings, published by cybersecurity research group Citizen Lab, suggest that Kouloglou’s iPhone was successfully compromised at least three times between October 2022 and March 2023 using Pegasus, a sophisticated spyware platform developed by Israeli surveillance technology company NSO Group.
Surveillance Investigator Reportedly Became a Surveillance Target
At the time of the alleged hacking incidents, Kouloglou was serving on the European Parliament’s PEGA Committee, a special committee established in 2022 to investigate the use and abuse of spyware technologies across the European Union.
The committee focused heavily on Pegasus and similar surveillance tools, examining allegations that governments and state-linked actors across Europe had used commercial spyware against journalists, opposition politicians, activists, and civil society groups.
According to Citizen Lab’s investigation, Kouloglou’s phone was infiltrated while he was actively participating in the committee’s work, making him one of the most high-profile known targets connected directly to Europe’s spyware investigations.
Kouloglou Says He Was Shocked by the Alleged Hacking
Speaking about the findings, Kouloglou expressed surprise that someone would allegedly target a member of the very committee tasked with investigating spyware abuse.
He said he never expected that a PEGA committee member would become a target of Pegasus surveillance and described the operation as exceptionally reckless.
The former lawmaker, who previously worked as a television journalist before entering politics, said the revelations were deeply troubling given the committee’s role in uncovering unlawful surveillance practices throughout Europe.
Citizen Lab Links Attack to Previously Identified Spy Campaigns
Researchers at Citizen Lab said the attacks appear to have exploited a previously unknown vulnerability in Apple’s software ecosystem.
The organization stated that Kouloglou later received multiple notifications from Apple warning him about suspected state-sponsored hacking attempts during both 2023 and 2024.
Although Citizen Lab did not identify the specific actor responsible for deploying Pegasus against Kouloglou, investigators linked parts of the activity to earlier campaigns that targeted Russian- and Belarusian-speaking journalists and political activists living in exile.
European Parliament Responds to New Spyware Claims
The European Parliament did not directly address the allegations involving Kouloglou but stated that its cybersecurity teams continuously monitor potential threats and attacks targeting parliamentary systems.
Parliament officials also noted that spyware detection and screening tools have been available to lawmakers since 2022. Additionally, a recently adopted report recommended extending those protections to all devices used for parliamentary business.
The European Commission did not immediately issue a public response regarding the allegations.
Pegasus Spyware Continues to Generate International Controversy
Pegasus has remained one of the world’s most controversial surveillance technologies. Developed by Israel-based NSO Group, the spyware has been marketed as a tool for combating terrorism, organized crime, and national security threats.
However, numerous investigations over the years have alleged that the software has been used to monitor journalists, political opponents, human rights activists, lawyers, and government critics around the world.
NSO Group has consistently denied facilitating unlawful surveillance and maintains that its products are sold exclusively to vetted government agencies for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
Major Events Surrounding Pegasus Spyware
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021 | The United States government placed NSO Group on its trade blacklist over national security and human rights concerns |
| 2022 | The European Parliament established the PEGA Committee to investigate spyware abuse across the EU |
| 2024 | Meta won a major damages ruling against NSO over unauthorized targeting of WhatsApp users |
| 2026 | Citizen Lab reported that former PEGA committee member Stelios Kouloglou was allegedly hacked using Pegasus |
Former EU Official Warns of a Growing Surveillance Crisis
Former European Parliament member Sophie in ‘t Veld, who played a key role in establishing the PEGA Committee, said the latest allegations highlight the growing danger posed by commercial spyware technologies.
According to her, the widespread availability of mercenary surveillance tools has created an environment where journalists, politicians, lawyers, activists, and ordinary citizens can potentially be monitored without knowing who is behind the operation.
The allegations surrounding Kouloglou’s case are expected to intensify ongoing debates within Europe and beyond about regulating commercial spyware, protecting digital privacy, and holding surveillance vendors accountable for how their technologies are used.
