According to Politico, the spyware was detected on two MEPs' phones, along with that of a member of the security and defense subcommittee.

Nathalie Loiseau, a French liberal MEP who chairs the subcommittee, was targeted with Pegasus, an Israeli-made spyware. Additionally, Bulgarian social-democrat lawmaker Elena Yoncheva also found traces of spyware during an IT security check on her phone.

Furthermore, a staff member of the committee was also identified as a target of surveillance software.

In response to the widening hacking issue on phones, the European Parliament had instructed members of the defense subcommittee (SEDE) to have their phones checked for spyware, as reported.

Delphine Colard, the European Parliament's deputy spokesperson, stated on Wednesday, "In the given geopolitical context and given the nature of the files followed by the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, special attention is dedicated to the devices of the Members of this subcommittee and the staff supporting its work."

Additionally, other SEDE members have reportedly been advised to undergo checks for spyware on their phones.

"The European Parliament constantly monitors cybersecurity threats against its working environment," a spokesperson for the European Parliament informed The Brussels Times.

In March 2022, the European Parliament established a special committee of inquiry to investigate the use of surveillance spyware. President Roberta Metsola also offered all MEPs the opportunity to conduct spyware detection scans on their private phones and computers.