Greek court finds 4 guilty in major 2022 spyware scandal

"A Greek court has sentenced four people, including two Israelis, to prison over a major wiretapping scandal involving the illegal use of Predator software to target dozens of politicians, journalists, business leaders and military officials. Dubbed the Greek Watergate by local media, the scandal engulfed Greece in 2022 following allegations by opposition party leader Nikos Androulakis and journalist Thanasis Koukakis that they had been under state surveillance via phone malware."

"The affair broke in early 2022 when Koukakis, an investigative journalist, discovered he had been wiretapped by the intelligence services (EYP) and that his phone had also been infected with Predator, a sophisticated software that makes it possible to infiltrate mobile phones, access messages and photos, and even remotely activate the microphone and camera. The independent telecommunications privacy authority ADAE said Predator was used against more than 90 people."

"The four include Tal Dilian, a former Israeli soldier and founder of Intellexa, a company specialising in the supply of spyware, which marketed Predator in Greece. His business partner, as well as two former Greek executives of the company, were also on trial. The court announced a combined sentence of 126 years and eight months, eight of which will have to be served."

A Greek court convicted four defendants, including Israeli Tal Dilian and his business partner from Intellexa, along with two former Greek company executives, of breaching telephone communication confidentiality. The scandal, termed Greek Watergate, emerged in 2022 when investigative journalist Thanasis Koukakis and opposition leader Nikos Androulakis discovered they were targeted by state surveillance using Predator spyware. The sophisticated malware enabled infiltration of mobile phones, access to messages and photos, and remote activation of microphones and cameras. The telecommunications authority confirmed Predator targeted over 90 individuals. The court imposed a combined sentence of 126 years and eight months, with eight years to be served, though defendants remain free pending appeal.

Read at www.aljazeera.com