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WARSAW, Poland (AP) \u2014 Former Polish prime minister Jaros\u0142aw Kaczy\u0144ski appeared before a special parliamentary committee Friday to testify about the purchase and allegedly illegal use of advanced spyware by a government headed by his Law and Justice Party.<\/p>\n
The NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was used to spy on mobile devices<\/a> belonging to opponents of the party. Recent findings suggest it was also used to eavesdrop on some key members of the right-wing party, as well.<\/p>\n The revelations, first reported by the Associated Press in 2021, shocked Poland and added to the European Union’s concerns that the Law and Justice government was undermining the rule of law.<\/p>\n Kaczy\u0144ski was prime minister in 2006-2007, but continued to play a key role in Poland\u2019s politics after leaving the job, especially when his Law and Justice party ruled again in 2015-2023. He was considered Poland’s most powerful politician during the period the spyware was used and held a variety of posts, including deputy prime minister for security.<\/p>\n In January 2022, Kaczy\u0144ski, 74, acknowledged that the country bought advanced spyware<\/a> from the Israeli surveillance software maker, but denied that it was being used to target his political opponents.<\/p>\n The opposition leader insists he has nothing to tell the investigative commission and has insisted that many countries use spyware to combat crime.<\/p>\n