The European Union on SLOTXO condemned any spying on journalists, after reports that Israeli software had been used to hack the smartphones of journalists, government officials and rights activists worldwide.
"What we could read so far - and this has to be verified, but if it is the case - it is completely unacceptable. Against any kind of rules we have in the European Union," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during a visit to Prague.
"Freedom of media, free press is one of the core values of the EU. It is completely unacceptable if this (hacking) were to be the case."
An investigation published on Sunday by 17 media organizations, led by the Paris-based non-profit journalism group Forbidden Stories, said spyware made and licensed by the Israeli company NSO had been used in attempted and successful hacks of 37 smartphones belonging to journalists, government officials and human rights activists.
NSO said its product was intended only for use by vetted government intelligence and law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism and crime.
In a statement https://www.nsogroup.com/Newses/following-the-publication-of-the-recent-article-by-forbidden-stories-we-wanted-to-directly-address-the-false-accusations-and-misleading-allegations-presented-there on its website, it said the information provided by the consortium's sources "has no factual basis".