Hungary has previously come under fire from EU lawmakers for its use of spyware. The Parliament’s special inquiry committee into the use of spyware (PEGA) in 2023 conducted a fact-finding mission after revelations that intrusion software had been used against opposition figures, journalists and civil society in the country.
Hungary also faced EU scrutiny after Belgian and Hungarian media reported late last year that its intelligence agency had spied on EU officials visiting the country in 2015-2017, searching their hotel rooms and recording their phone conversations. The Hungarian government dismissed the reports.
Budapest and Brussels have been on a collision course for years over EU criticism that the government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has curtailed fundamental rights and democratic checks and balances. The EU triggered a formal Article 7 procedure over rule-of-law issues against Hungary in 2018.
The delegation of civil liberties lawmakers this week is headed by Dutch Greens’ member Tineke Strik. It includes Belgian liberal member Sophie Wilmès, Spanish left-wing member Pernando Barrena Arza, Polish social democrat member Krzysztof Śmiszek and Polish center-right member Michał Wawrykiewicz.
Faraday bags are used to keep devices safe from interference from hackers, as well as from other kinds of tracking or surveillance, by blocking incoming and outgoing signals.
Two officials with knowledge of the Parliament’s security policies, granted anonymity to discuss internal protocols, told POLITICO that the use of the pouches was not common for members’ trips and travel.