Greece’s former spy boss tells judges service did not use illegal malware in 2019-22
- Allegations were made amid rising concern in the European Union over the use of spyware
The former head of Greece’s EYP intelligence service has denied allegations that the state agency used illegal phone malware from 2019 to 2022 to spy on targets, court documents show.
Greece became mired in scandal in 2022 following allegations by an opposition party leader and a journalist that they had been under state surveillance via phone malware.
The allegations, made amid growing concern in the European Union about the use of spyware, prompted judicial investigations and led to the resignations of then head of EYP Panagiotis Kontoleon and the general secretary to the prime minister.
Journalist Thanasis Koukakis presented evidence that his phone was infected by Predator spyware, developed by Cytrox, a surveillance company within the Greece-based Intellexa consortium.
Traces of Predator were found in dozens of phones, including politicians and businessmen, according to an independent authority.
The conservative government has acknowledged it lawfully monitored the communications of Socialist party leader Nikos Androulakis. It has denied any wrongdoing.
Kontoleon, EYP chief from 2019 to 2022, testified in closed-door hearings in May as a witness over the case that has raised questions about protection of private communications in Greece.
