Hungary's government may spy on EU lawmakers
21 April 2025
Members of the European Parliament were offered anti-spying phone pouches during a recent stay in Hungary. The delegates of the Parliament's civil liberties committee were also advised to be cautious with the use of public wi-fi networks and charging facilities.
Why? Hungary's government has frequently used spy programmes against its own citizens in the past, as well as EU representatives.
In 2021, it was confirmed that the authorities frequently used the Pegasus software to track government-critical journalists and opposition politicians. In late 2024, news also broke that several EU officials had been spied on by the authorities during their visits to the country between 2015 and 2017.
This recent step adds Hungary to a short, yet, inglorious list of countries where the EU urges its staff to use phones blocking espionage attempts: China, Ukraine, and most recently, the US.
 | Erik Szilárd Boros Whether this degree of protection is something unique or part of general protocol, remains unclear. Regardless, considering the deterioration of relations between the EU and Hungary, the country's deep economic ties to Russia, and the entrenchment of Moscow's intelligence networks across the country, the increased caution recommended by the European Parliament is hardly surprising. |
Welcome to The European Correspondent
Europe lacks true European media: in Germany alone, there are more media devoted exclusively to football than news outlets specialising on Europe. The established players mainly focus on Brussels and European institutions. The European Correspondent aims to change that. We cover the whole of Europe and write for a community of citizens who want to look beyond their own national borders. Without European journalism, there is no European civil society.
〉Read our manifesto
〉The stories we would like to write for you
Become a donor!
The European Correspondent is fully funded by its readers. We can only produce the newsletter with your support - and work towards the bigger project: building true European media. Donate now!
With your help, we can create true European journalism. Thank you!
We are non-profit. Every donated € goes directly into The European Correspondent.