A Greek court on Thursday found four defendants, two Israelis and two Greeks, guilty of illegally eavesdropping on politicians, journalists and others using the Predator spy software. The court sentenced them to eight years in prison, while the execution of the sentence was conditionally suspended until the end of the appeal process. The case, uncovered by journalist Thanasis Koukakis, caused a political upheaval in Greece and led to the resignation of several high-ranking officials, including the head of Greece’s EYP intelligence service and an adviser to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
- The court found four people guilty of illegal wiretapping.
- They used Predator spy software to track multiple people.
- The defendants received a suspended eight-year prison sentence.
- The case led to political upheaval and resignations.
- The case increased pressure on the government and drew attention to the risks of espionage.
The scandal began to unfold in early 2022 when Koukakis discovered that his phone had been infected with Predator software. This tool allows access to messages, photos and even remote control of the microphone or camera on the infected device. According to the investigation, the software was used to track more than 90 people, including politicians, businessmen and military officials. The case triggered a vote of no confidence in the government in the Greek parliament, which Prime Minister Mitsotakis, however, held.
Predator software in the spotlight
Among the defendants is Tal Dilian, a former Israeli soldier and founder of Intellexa, which sold the Predator software. The other defendants are his wife and business partner, a shareholder of Intellexa and the head of Krikel, which purchased the software. None of the defendants attended the court hearing, but all denied any involvement in illegal activities. However, the court decided that they committed a violation of the secrecy of telephone communication, manipulation of personal data and illegal access to information systems.
The United States placed Intellexa on the Prohibited Entity List in 2023, calling it a threat to national security. Cytrox, which developed the Predator software in North Macedonia, was also on the list. This software is often compared to the well-known Pegasus system developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, but it is a different tool.
Policy implications and further investigation
The case had serious political consequences, as among the victims of espionage was also the leader of the opposition party PASOK and then MEP Nikos Andrulakis. Andrulakis revealed in July 2022 that they had tried to attack his phone using Predator, which made the scandal even more visible. According to the civil suit, Koukakis was tracked as early as 2020, with his phone infected with eight text messages containing malware.
The Greek government is facing pressure to thoroughly investigate the case and take measures to protect citizens’ privacy. The case also points to the growing risks associated with the use of espionage technologies and their abuse for political and commercial purposes.
