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Explore the legal battle against spyware surveillance in Europe through this 57-minute conference talk from the 39th Chaos Communication Congress. Learn about the landmark case initiated by Spanish non-profit IrÃdia after CitizenLab discovered that a lawyer representing a Catalan politician had been targeted with Pegasus spyware by the Spanish government during COVID-19 lockdown. Discover how this individual case evolved into the formation of the PEGA coalition in 2025, bringing together partners across Europe to combat spyware abuse through legal action. Examine the current status of flagship EU cases and understand the broader implications for state responsibility and the role of spyware companies operating within European borders. Analyze the ongoing spyware scandals across EU countries despite the European Parliament's PEGA investigation in 2023, and understand why legal action has become the primary avenue for change given the lack of political will. Review the coalition's comprehensive strategies for driving accountability, strengthening safeguards, and ensuring remedies for victims while working toward systemic change to prevent the devastating impact of surveillance technologies on civil society and human rights defenders.
