The National Prosecution Office in Poland has filed charges against two former directors of the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW), Piotr P. and Maciej M., for misuse of the spyware system known as Pegasus. The prosecution asserts that these individuals failed to secure the necessary IT security accreditation for the spyware, thereby jeopardizing sensitive information handled by their agencies. If convicted, they could face up to three years in prison for negligence in their official duties.

The allegations highlight a significant oversight in the management of classified data within Polish intelligence, as the former agency chiefs allegedly knew that their actions could put crucial operational integrity at risk. Both Piotr P. and Maciej Materka served during the leadership of the Law and Justice Party (PiS), with Piotr at the helm of ABW from 2015 to 2016 and Maciej leading SKW from 2018 to 2022. Their tenures have now come under scrutiny, reflecting broader concerns regarding the security measures and accountability within the Polish intelligence community.

Following the announcement of the charges, Maciej Materka publicly criticized the prosecution on social media, revealing tensions within the political and intelligence landscape in Poland. This incident emanates from a series of investigations into the controversial use of surveillance technology and its implications for privacy rights, drawing significant attention to the capabilities of state intelligence and the potential misuse of such technologies in governance.