Polish Prosecutors Report Israeli Spyware Firm Retained Access to Sensitive Surveillance Data

Polish prosecutors have raised concerns about the security of Israeli spyware, specifically the Pegasus system manufactured by NSO Group, revealing that the Israeli company retained technical access to sensitive surveillance data collected by Poland’s anti-corruption bureau. This discovery has sparked new questions about Poland’s reliance on Israeli security technology amid growing cooperation with Turkish defense companies across Europe.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the findings as “a crime against the state,” accusing his predecessors of allowing an Israeli company and potentially Israeli intelligence to access sensitive information about Polish citizens, opposition politicians, and independent prosecutors. His remarks highlight the deepening tensions between Poland and Israel, particularly in light of ongoing disputes over Israel’s actions in Gaza and its policies toward Palestinians.

The revelations emerged during the opening day of the Warsaw Security Forum, where Polish defense strategist Jacek Bartosiak identified Turkey as one of Poland’s principal security partners. Bartosiak emphasized that Poland’s key allies include Ukrainians, Swedes, Finns, and Turks, underscoring a shift in strategic priorities that challenges traditional ties with Israel.

The Pegasus revelations add another layer of complexity to Poland-Israel relations, which have already been strained by disagreements over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and its policies toward the Palestinians. Despite these tensions, Poland continues to purchase Israeli defense systems, reflecting the competing political and military considerations that shape European arms procurement.

According to Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office, experts from the Internal Security Agency, known as ABW, determined that the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, or CBA, “did not have full control over the Pegasus system.” The bureau lacked passwords to some administrative accounts, while the server module responsible for infecting mobile phones remained under NSO’s “exclusive control.” Data collected through the system traveled through servers outside Poland that the bureau could not control.

Investigators found that NSO had the technical ability to access intercepted material, but they could not establish whether the company actually examined information collected during specific surveillance operations. This ambiguity has fueled further scrutiny of the company’s role and potential ties to Israeli intelligence.

Tusk went further, asserting that it was “beyond any doubt” that NSO cooperated with Israeli intelligence. In a video posted on X, he accused the previous Polish government of surrendering control over sensitive surveillance information to an Israeli company and potentially the Israeli state. His claim that information reached the Israeli side goes beyond what investigators established about access to specific intercepted records.

Source: Read the original report