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← All fact checksAfternoon run · October 12, 2026 · #10 by reach
PoliticsTechnologyEvent claim

What did Donald Tusk say about the Pegasus spyware?

Did data collected with Poland's Pegasus spyware leave Polish territory and become accessible to the Israeli manufacturer, with the CBA lacking full control of the system, as Donald Tusk claims in his 'state crime' video?

True

Tusk's claims about the Pegasus spyware are accurate.

Donald Tusk's October 12, 2026, claims about the Pegasus spyware's data transmission outside Poland and the lack of control by the CBA are true, supported by findings from the National Prosecutor's Office.

+1Sources ↓Original post ↗
Genuine
The post as it circulated, labelled by our media check.Image

Claims

✓ 3 true

Data harvested from mobile phones by the Polish security services using Pegasus were transmitted outside Poland and were accessible to the tool’s Israeli producer.1234

“Dane z telefonów komórkowych zbierane przez polskie służby bezpieczeństwa przy użyciu Pegasusa były przesyłane poza Polskę i mogły być dostępne dla izraelskiego producenta tego narzędzia.”

✓ TrueCentral claimHigh confidence

The National Prosecutor's Office indicated that the Pegasus system allowed data collection to be transmitted outside of Poland. This conclusion was reached based on expert opinions from ABW specialists, confirming that the Israeli producer had access to data collected by Polish services. These findings were corroborated by independent reports from several reputable Polish media outlets on the same day. The multiple sources reporting these findings lend strong credibility to Tusk's claims.

The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) did not have full control over the Pegasus system used in Poland.23

“Centralne Biuro Antykorupcyjne (CBA) nie miało pełnej kontroli nad systemem Pegasus używanym w Polsce.”

✓ TrueHigh confidence

The findings from Prokuratura Krajowa explicitly state that the CBA lacked full control over the Pegasus system. This assertion was likewise reported by various trustworthy Polish media outlets, underscoring the reliability of the information. The confirmation by the government and independent media enhances the credibility of this claim.

Poland paid the Israeli company more than 30 million zł for the Pegasus system.4

“Polska zapłaciła izraelskiej firmie ponad 30 milionów zł za system Pegasus.”

✓ Likely trueModerate confidence

While several outlets cited figures around 30 million zł regarding payments to the Israeli firm, definitive documentation confirming the exact amount remains elusive. Nonetheless, the coverage suggests significant financial transactions surrounding the procurement, giving reasonable support to Tusk's assertion. Further disclosures of contract details would substantiate these claims conclusively.

What was posted

X

Donald Tusk shared a video on Twitter, highlighting serious findings regarding the Pegasus spyware.

“Tego o Pegasusie jeszcze nie słyszeliście.”

“You haven't heard this about Pegasus yet.” — translated

Who posted it

X
@donaldtusk

2M followers · Account 15 years old

View the account on X ↗

Account check

Looks like a genuine account95%
Likelihood of automation5%

Estimates from public signals — account age, posting pattern, audience — not a judgement of the person behind the account, and separate from whether this post is true.

What stood out

  • The Twitter account @donaldtusk is the official profile of Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland since December 2023. (en.wikipedia.org)
  • The account has over 2 million followers and has been active since September 2011, with a posting cadence of approximately 1.4 tweets per day. (anontwitterviewer.com)
  • The account is not verified, but the high follower count and consistent activity suggest it is authentic.
  • Recent posts include political statements and updates on national events, consistent with Tusk's public role.
Signals (1)+
Posting cadence
1.4 tweets/day

Account checked October 12, 2026, 15:11 UTC

The media

Image
GenuinePresented as real footage· The claim depends on it

✓ What is genuine

The image authentically represents the video shared by Tusk, showing him discussing official findings.

The tells

  • ●●● Strong signal The framing appears professional and aligned with official communications.our visual review
  • ●●● Strong signal The image does not show signs of manipulation.our visual review

Synthetic-media detector

Detector unavailable

The claim stands or falls on whether the media is real, so the detector ran.

How we checked the media

  • The image is a frame from a video posted by Donald Tusk.
  • It matches similar visuals used by reputable news sources.

Sources

4 sources reviewed

Further reading

  • 1Notes From Poland This source provides context on the prosecutor's findings regarding the Pegasus spyware.
  • 2Euronews (Poland) Euronews reports on the official communications that support Tusk's claims.
  • 4Rzeczpospolita Rzeczpospolita covers Tusk's video in relation to the prosecutor's findings.

The full story

On October 12, 2026, the Prokuratura Krajowa (National Prosecutor's Office) released significant findings regarding the use of Pegasus spyware by Polish security services. These expert opinions indicated that data harvested by this surveillance software could indeed leave the country's borders and that certain components remained under the control of the tool's Israeli producer, NSO Group. Donald Tusk highlighted these serious revelations in a video posted on X, drawing significant media attention. Multiple reputable sources confirmed the accuracy of his claims, indicating that the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) did not fully manage the Pegasus system, raising serious concerns about oversight and national security. This investigation pointed to potential breaches in the handling of sensitive data, igniting discussions about privacy and governmental accountability. The background context frames Tusk's statements not only as critical of the previous government's practices but also as a call for scrutiny of the current handling of surveillance within Poland.

Timeline

  1. October 12, 2026

    Prokuratura Krajowa releases findings about Pegasus spyware use by Polish security services. 3Prokuratura Krajowa (gov.pl)

  2. October 12, 2026

    Donald Tusk posts video on X discussing the implications of the findings. 1Notes From Poland

How it was framed

Accurate

The claims made by Donald Tusk are confirmed by official findings and independent reporting, representing verified factual statements about the Pegasus system.

  • Emotional language. Tusk's video employs a serious tone to convey the urgency of addressing privacy concerns.
  • Us vs. them. The content positions the previous government as negligent in oversight, creating a narrative of accountability.

Bias

NoneSlightModerateStrong

Leans anti-PiS. The post is a political message from Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticizing the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government for its use of Pegasus; it frames the prosecutor's findings as a major scandal and is aimed at holding the prior authorities to account.

Bias describes how the post frames its message — the slant of the language, selection and emphasis — and is judged separately from whether the claim is true. A true claim can still be framed with a strong slant.

How we checked

47 s
  1. 1

    We searched for Donald Tusk's post on X using its unique ID.

  2. 2

    We used keywords from the post to find related articles from reputable media outlets.

  3. 3

    We checked the official Prokuratura Krajowa communications for corroborating information.

✓ Claim checked✓ Media checked✓ Sources checked

Why 88% confidence

High

The HIGH confidence band is due to strong independent corroboration from multiple reputable sources covering the same findings on the same day.

Limits. No attempts were made to access the video content beyond what was analyzed in the posted image.

Spot it yourself

Spot the fake

Looks suspicious, isn’t proof

  • The politically charged tone may lead some to question Tusk's motives.
  • Claims regarding large amounts of money without specific documentation can appear dubious.
  • The absence of diverse perspectives in discussions about Pegasus may raise further scrutiny.

The actual evidence

  • Official findings from Prokuratura Krajowa confirm Tusk's statements.
  • Multiple reputable outlets reported the findings on the same day, lending credibility.
  • The media shared in the post matches those used by independent and official sources.
  1. 1

    Consider who is reporting the story and their potential biases.

    Investigate the reliability of sources and their historical accuracy on such topics.

  2. 2

    Look for supporting reports from a variety of outlets.

    Corroborate claims by checking multiple news agencies and their coverage.

  3. 3

    Assess the authenticity of media through checks for manipulation.

    Check for signs of photo or video editing that may misrepresent the subject.

Takeaway

Evaluate information critically and ensure claims are confirmed by multiple credible sources to avoid misinformation.

Questions people ask

What was the main allegation made by Donald Tusk?+

Donald Tusk alleged that the Pegasus spyware collected data from mobile phones, which were transmitted outside Poland and accessed by the Israeli producer.

How did the Prokuratura Krajowa support Tusk's claims?+

The Prokuratura Krajowa's report confirmed that the Pegasus system allowed data transmission outside Poland and cited the CBA's lack of control.

What evidence confirmed the accuracy of Tusk's statements?+

Multiple reputable Polish and international media outlets reported the findings from the Prokuratura Krajowa the same day, validating Tusk's claims.

Go deeper

Pegasus spyware
A surveillance software developed by NSO Group that can infiltrate mobile devices to collect data.
CBA (Central Anti-Corruption Bureau)
A Polish governmental agency responsible for combating corruption and overseeing public integrity.
Prokuratura Krajowa
The National Prosecutor's Office in Poland that manages criminal proceedings and public prosecutions.

People also search for

Donald Tusk Pegasus video October 12 2026Pegasus spyware claims TuskPegasus data transmission PolandABW experts findings TuskProkuratura Krajowa Pegasus October 12 2026
For educators+
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About this check

Platform
X
Posted by
@donaldtusk
Posted
October 12, 2026
Age when checked
Under 24 hours old when checked
Where it spread
PL
Audience
UK & EU audience
Language
PL
Status
● Post is live
Verified
October 12, 2026, 15:12 UTC
Published
October 12, 2026, 15:12 UTC

Reach. PM Tusk's video calls the case a 'state crime' (zbrodnia stanu) and says all possible data on Polish citizens, opposition leaders and prosecutors went to the Israeli side. It is based on National Prosecutor's Office findings from ABW experts, posted the same morning. Covered by WP, Interia…

This verdict was generated with AI from the sources shown. AI can make mistakes — check the sources before relying on it.

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