Several digital rights organisations in Europe have renewed calls for the European Union (EU) to impose a complete ban on commercial spyware, including tools such as Pegasus, asserting that existing regulation is inadequate to protect fundamental rights. The appeal was made by European Digital Rights (EDRi), a network of civil society groups advocating digital privacy and human rights, in a position paper published in 2025 and reiterated in statements in January 2026.
EDRi’s proposal urges EU political leaders to adopt legislation that would prohibit the development, production, sale, export, and use of commercial spyware within the bloc. The group’s position paper calls for a clear legal definition of spyware and an end to the commercial market that supplies such tools. It also seeks sanctions against vendors and investors in spyware technology, along with legal remedies for individuals affected by unlawful spyware use.
The campaign follows a series of spyware scandals in Europe involving allegations of covert surveillance using tools developed by private companies. Pegasus, a mobile phone spyware created by NSO Group Technologies Ltd., an Israeli cyber-intelligence firm, has been most prominent in public debate. Pegasus is designed to be installed covertly on smartphones and is capable of accessing data, camera, and microphone functions. NSO Group markets the tool to government clients for use against serious crime and terrorism, but reports from investigative journalism projects and rights organisations have linked its use to surveillance of journalists, activists, and political figures.
EDRi and allied groups argue that spyware technology, regardless of the intent professed by its developers or users, poses intrinsic risks to privacy and other fundamental rights. The proposed EU ban would also cover the trading of software vulnerabilities and exploits that spyware operators use to gain access to devices. According to the position paper, ending the spyware market in the EU requires dismantling the ecosystem of vendors and financial backers that enable its proliferation.
Supporters of a ban point to multiple reports of spyware use across European countries, including allegations of misuse by state authorities. Civil society coalitions and human rights networks have called for transparency and accountability measures, and some members of the European Parliament have pressed for regulation that addresses both state and commercial use of spyware.
The push for legislative action comes amid ongoing debate within EU institutions about how to balance national security, law enforcement needs, and digital rights. Previous inquiries by the European Parliament into the use of surveillance tools have underscored concerns about oversight and legal safeguards, but have stopped short of recommending an outright ban.