Greece's Phone Spyware Scandal Escalates: Courtroom Proceedings Reveal Allegations of Government Cover-Up
It has become known as Greece's Watergate: spyware software and Greek intelligence targeted the mobile phones of government ministers, senior military officers, judges, and journalists.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called it a scandal, but no government officials have been charged in court and critics accuse the government of trying to cover up the truth.
Instead, a low-ranking judge will on Wednesday hear the case against two Israelis and two Greeks, allegedly involved with marketing spy software known as Predator.
What We Know
In the summer of 2022, current head of the socialist party Pasok, Nikos Androulakis, was informed by EU Parliament's IT experts that he had received a malicious text message containing spy software.
This Predator spyware, marketed by the Athens-based Israeli company Intellexa, has access to messages, camera, and microphone, effectively turning a person's phone against them.
Androulakis discovered he had been tracked for 'national security reasons' by Greece's National Intelligence Service (EYP). After winning elections in 2019, PM Mitsotakis placed EYP under his direct supervision, yet surveillance scandals began to unfold.
The Hellenic Data Protection Authority reported that Predator surveilled at least 87 people, including government officials. Despite claims of coincidences, critics note the overlapping targets suggest a coordinated surveillance effort, one the government has denied.
Despite the introduction of new laws allowing state use of surveillance software under strict conditions, the questions remain as to why secret services targeted officials such as the Chief of National Defence General Staff.
The Current Legal Proceedings
A July 2024 report by the Greek Supreme Court yielded no connection between Predator and government officials, leading government spokespeople to assert the integrity of the judicial process.
However, the trial against the four private individuals now raises skepticism, particularly when factoring in relationships with state officials that seem to have gone unscrutinized.
This evolving scandal taints institutional authority, as noted by journalists and watchdogs. Eliza Trintafyllou pointed out the absurdity that individuals acted independently while utilizing advanced spyware typically reserved for state agencies.
The Role of the Government
After the scandal broke, the Greek government passed a law to safeguard communication confidentiality but earned further criticism for not thoroughly investigating the surveillance of its ministers. Incidental findings underected during a raid at Intellexa's offices fueled allegations of government complicity.
Christos Rammos, a former judge instrumental in uncovering the scandal, claimed a war on independent authority severely undermines democratic processes. Opposition groups and international entities, like the European Parliament, have voiced concerns regarding governmental transparency throughout this affair.
