Parliament Probes Pegasus Spyware Use Against Opposition
A parliamentary committee is investigating the alleged use of Pegasus spyware to hack the phones of opposition politicians and government critics. MP Phakamon Hunanon questioned a 100-million-baht budget for surveillance software and demanded to know who authorized the targeting, noting only opposition figures appear to have been affected. Officials from the Digital Economy Ministry, military, and police were summoned to testify.
The House Committee on Political Development, Mass Media and Public Participation convened on November 12 at Parliament to investigate the procurement and use of Pegasus spyware. The committee summoned the National Police Chief, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Secretary-General of the National Security Council, the Director of the National Intelligence Agency, the Director of the Army Information Department, and representatives of the National Cyber Security Committee or National Cyber Security Board, though most agencies sent lower-level officials.
Committee chair MP Phakamon Hunanon (People's Party) stated the meeting addressed the hacking of opposition leaders' phones, a concern long recognized by society. She outlined three reasons for the inquiry: first, citizens' personal data is not being protected by the state; second, the spyware appears to be a state tool used for political purposes since no government MPs were targeted; third, in the current political climate of attempts to control all independent bodies, the surveillance of at least two opposition MPs raises questions about whether the government is using taxpayer money to spy on political opponents.
Phakamon noted that representatives from the Ministry of Digital Economy attended and would be questioned about the minister's policy directives, especially since some attendees were themselves Pegasus targets. She pointed to the FY2027 budget showing procurements worth hundreds of millions of baht that may be for surveillance software, and asked police whether similar purchases were made this year. Most critically, she demanded to know who decides which individuals to target.
Phakamon emphasized that citizens have a right to political expression without being surveilled, and asked who sets the target lists and who sets the policy. Asked whether she was certain Pegasus came from state agencies, she replied that Pegasus is sold only to governments, is Israeli-made, and cannot be purchased by ordinary citizens or private entities.
