Stelios Kouloglou sues NSO Group over Pegasus spyware surveillance

Pegasus spyware NSO Group Stelios Kouloglou PEGA Committee surveillance lawsuit

Journalist and former Member of the European Parliament Stelios Kouloglou has filed a lawsuit with the Athens Court of First Instance against executives of the Israeli firm NSO Group. The legal action follows forensic analysis by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, which confirmed that Kouloglou’s mobile device was infected with Pegasus spyware on October 21, 2022, and again on March 6 and 7, 2023.

The lawsuit alleges criminal offenses including violations of communication privacy, illegal access to information systems, and breaches of personal data protection laws. Kouloglou asserts that the unauthorized access allowed perpetrators to view communications, contacts, photos, documents, and geolocation data, including sensitive health and professional information.

A central element of the case is the timing of the surveillance. Kouloglou notes that the infections coincided with significant sessions of the European Parliament’s PEGA committee, which he served on as a substitute member to investigate the use of spyware like Pegasus and Predator within the European Union. He argues that the breach poses a risk to democratic processes by potentially exposing sensitive parliamentary and journalistic activities.

Entities

Athens Court of First Instance · Citizen Lab · European Parliament · European People's Party · Kostis Hatzidakis · Manfred Weber · NSO Group · PEGA Committee · Stelios Kouloglou · Toulouse

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 7 SOURCES] The surveillance occurred during Kouloglou’s tenure as a member of the European Parliament’s PEGA committee, which investigates the use of spyware. thefaq.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.tanea.gr · tvxs.gr · www.paraskhnio.gr · +2 more
[● 5 SOURCES] The legal action alleges violations of communication privacy, illegal access to information systems, and breaches of personal data protection laws. thefaq.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.paraskhnio.gr · www.reader.gr · www.thetoc.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] The lawsuit is directed against NSO Group executives, including Yaron Shohat, Shalev Hulio, and Omri Lavi. tvxs.gr
[● 7 SOURCES] Stelios Kouloglou filed a lawsuit with the Athens Court of First Instance. thefaq.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.tanea.gr · tvxs.gr · www.paraskhnio.gr · +2 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Forensic analysis by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab confirmed the device was infected with Pegasus spyware on October 21, 2022, and again on March 6 and 7, 2023. thefaq.gr · www.tanea.gr · www.paraskhnio.gr · www.reader.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The Pegasus spyware allowed unauthorized access to personal data, including communications, contacts, photos, calendars, documents, and geolocation data. www.naftemporiki.gr · tvxs.gr · thefaq.gr · www.paraskhnio.gr