Leaders of Polish Women’s Strike Summoned Over Pegasus

Learner News | 12/10/2024

Today’s edition of Polish Learner News explores key developments in a major investigation involving prominent Polish activists and the contentious use of surveillance technology. Discover the intricacies of this ongoing legal scrutiny.

Leaders of Polish Women's Strike Summoned Over Pegasus

The news in Polish

Liderki1 Strajku Kobiet z Polski, Klementyna Suchanow i Marta Lempart, zostały wezwane do prokuratury2 w związku z użyciem oprogramowania3 Pegasus. Śledztwo4 bada, czy użycie tego narzędzia było legalne. ABW otrzymało zgodę5 na obserwację Suchanow, ale nie Lempart. Dochodzenie6 trwa, sprawdzając funkcje Pegasusa i przepisy.

  1. liderka (f.)
    Osoba wiodąca lub prowadząca grupę osób. ↩︎
  2. prokuratura (f.)
    Instytucja zajmująca się ściganiem przestępstw i oskarżaniem w procesach karnych. ↩︎
  3. oprogramowanie (n.)
    Zbiór programów komputerowych i związanych z nimi danych. ↩︎
  4. śledztwo (n.)
    Postępowanie zmierzające do wyjaśnienia przestępstwa. ↩︎
  5. zgoda (f.)
    Dobrowolne pozwolenie lub aprobata, aby coś się stało. ↩︎
  6. dochodzenie (n.)
    Postępowanie mające na celu zbadanie jakiejś sprawy. ↩︎

Translation

The leaders of the Women’s Strike in Poland, Klementyna Suchanow and Marta Lempart, have been summoned to the prosecutor’s office regarding the use of Pegasus software. The investigation is examining whether the use of this tool was lawful. The Internal Security Agency received permission to monitor Suchanow, but not Lempart. The investigation is ongoing, scrutinising the functions of Pegasus and the regulations involved.

Text Comprehension

Question: Who are the leaders of the Polish Women’s Strike mentioned in the summary?

The leaders mentioned are Klementyna Suchanow and Marta Lempart.

Question: What is being investigated about the Pegasus software?

The investigation is checking whether the use of Pegasus software was legal.

Vocabulary

PolishEnglish
liderka (f.)leader
prokuratura (f.)prosecutor's office
oprogramowanie (n.)software
śledztwo (n.)investigation
zgoda (f.)consent
dochodzenie (n.)inquiry

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Read the full story

The summons, issued on October 10 and 11, 2024, comes amidst a broader inquiry into the legal and operational frameworks that allowed the use of Pegasus, a sophisticated cyber tool typically deployed for surveillance purposes. The investigation aims to explore whether public officials overstepped their authority when utilising this software.

According to information gathered by TVN24, Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) sought permission from the Warsaw District Court for surveillance operations against the activists, citing suspicion of espionage activities. While the court approved the operation targeting Suchanow, it did not grant the same approval for Lempart.

Leaders of Polish Women's Strike Summoned Over Pegasus
Leaders of Polish Women’s Strike Summoned Over Pegasus

The National Prosecutor’s Office initiated its investigation into the alleged misuse of Pegasus on March 18, 2024. This probe examines the legality and proportionality of surveillance operations, including the software’s functionality, technical possibilities, and how any collected secret information was managed and disseminated.

A team of five prosecutors, including forensic experts from the ABW, are thoroughly assessing all circumstances surrounding Pegasus’s use. In particular, they are inspecting its functionality and effectiveness, as well as securing relevant evidence from the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau headquarters.

The investigation, largely classified, has already involved the testimony of numerous witnesses, providing insights into how the system was acquired and used. The findings are expected to shed light on the extent of potential breaches of protocol in employing such surveillance tools.

This situation follows significant nationwide protests led by the Women’s Strike movement, particularly in the wake of controversial rulings by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal on abortion. The scrutiny of Pegasus’s application reflects broader tensions surrounding privacy and civil liberties in Poland.

Info: “Polish Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Polish”, a language school dedicated to teaching Polish. Our extensive range of online courses is led by experienced Polish tutors, ensuring personalised learning experiences that cater to the diverse needs of our students.


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