Pegasus spyware scandal deepens as Poland questions Israeli tech, strengthens ties with Turkey

Polish prosecutors found that NSO Group retained technical access to Pegasus surveillance data collected by Poland's anti-corruption bureau, raising questions about Warsaw's reliance on Israeli security technology. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the findings 'a crime against the state' and accused the previous government of allowing an Israeli company and potentially Israeli intelligence to access sensitive information about Polish citizens and opposition politicians. The revelations emerged at the Warsaw Security Forum, where Polish defense strategist Jacek Bartosiak identified Turkey as a principal security partner over Israel.

Polish prosecutors announced Monday that NSO Group, the Israeli manufacturer of Pegasus spyware, retained technical access to sensitive surveillance data collected by Poland's Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA). The bureau lacked passwords to some administrative accounts, and the server module responsible for infecting mobile phones remained under NSO's 'exclusive control,' with data traveling through servers outside Poland. Investigators could not establish whether NSO actually examined intercepted material. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the findings 'a crime against the state,' accusing the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government of allowing an Israeli company and potentially Israeli intelligence to access sensitive information about Polish citizens, opposition politicians, and independent prosecutors. A parliamentary commission announced 11 criminal referrals, with chairwoman Magdalena Sroka stating the CBA operated the spyware without required security accreditation. Poland acquired Pegasus in 2017 under PiS using money from a Justice Ministry fund intended for crime victims. The system was used to monitor hundreds of people, including political opponents. Tusk disclosed last year that his wife and daughter were among those affected. The revelations emerged at the Warsaw Security Forum, where defense strategist Jacek Bartosiak identified Turkey as a principal security partner over Israel. Despite political disagreements over Israel's Gaza conduct, Poland continues to purchase Israeli defense systems, including a $110 million contract for Elta coastal-surveillance radars signed in July 2025.