Berichterstatterin Sophie in’t Veld vergleicht in der Pressekonferenz das Stochern im Spionage-Nebel mit dem Rätsel eines Kriminalromans: „Wer hatte ein Motiv, die Mittel und die Gelegenheit [zum Einsatz dieser Software]?“, fragt sie. In ihren Augen kommen nur zwei Verdächtige infrage – viele mögliche Szenarien gebe es schließlich nicht. Entweder habe die Firma Intellexa, die Predator vertreibt, selbst die Spionagesoftware eingesetzt – oder eben die griechische Regierung unter Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Auch wenn es keine Beweise gebe, deute alles darauf hin, dass Menschen in Regierungskreisen Predator eigesetzt haben.
Archiv: EYP (spy agency Greece)
Greece wiretap and spyware claims circle around PM Mitsotakis
(08.09.2022)
„It all goes back three years, when I started investigating a series of wrongdoings that involved Greek banks and the EU bailout money used to save them from bankruptcy at the peak of the financial crisis,“ Koukakis told the BBC.
After his initial reports, he began looking into a potential cover-up – a task that involved talking to members of the judiciary. He believes it was the Mitsotakis government that decided to place him under surveillance in order to eavesdrop on his exchanges with judges and their assistants.
European Parliament Probes Wiretapping Scandal in Greece
(09.09.2022)
Triantafillou reportedly observed that official investigations into privacy breaches seem to move slowly while investigations into media leaks move much faster.
MEPs agreed on the need to urgently investigate spyware companies, pointing to the risk of evidence destruction.
They highlighted the negative consequences for democracy, media freedom, and freedom of expression.
Israeli-made Spyware Was Used to Hack Phone of Greek Ex-minister
(09.09.2022)
Intellexa is run by a former Israeli military intelligence official Tal Dilian. The company was based in Cyprus until a year and a half ago, when it moved to Greece.
Predator is very similar to the infamous Pegasus spyware made by the competing and more famous cyber firm NSO Group. Like Pegasus, it allows the operator to access the entire contents of the target’s phone, as well as secretly activating its camera and phone and recording.
Another Greek opposition lawmaker victim of Predator
(09.09.2022)
A parliamentary inquiry committee set up to investigate the scandal has not brought any results considering that the former secret services chief and the prime minister’s secretary general, who both resigned after the scandal, refused to explain the reasons for spying on the Greek opposition leader.
Main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras warned on Thursday that those who invoke “confidentiality” to cover up crimes “face criminal charges”.
Welcome to the website of the PEGA Committee of inquiry!
On 10 March 2022, the European Parliament decided to set up the PEGA Committee to investigate alleged infringement or maladministration in application of EU law in relation to the use of Pegasus and equivalent spyware surveillance software. In particular, the PEGA Committee is asked to gather information on the extent to which Member States or third countries are using intrusive surveillance to the extent that it violates the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU.
During its twelve-month mandate our Committee, with its 38 Members and 38 substitute Members, will make use of various methods to investigate the alleged violations: it will hold hearings with experts, victims and other persons, request studies and briefings and undertake fact-finding missions when needed. The investigations shall be concluded with the submission of a final report.
EU Commission calls for investigation of phone tapping scandal
Hipper said it is the responsibility of each member state to investigate such matters, adding that “the Commission expects national authorities to thoroughly investigate any such allegation in order to restore public confidence.”
Greek president calls for investigation of phone tapping scandal
The government has said it will back a request by the opposition for a parliamentary investigating committee on the issue.
The European Commission is also monitoring the case. Cypriot MEP George Georgiou, vice-chair of the EU’s PEGA committee investigating malware surveillance software, has also sent a letter to the committee proposing a mission to Greece to investigate the allegations.
Israel, Greece sign cooperation agreement on cyber security
(17.06.2020)
It was signed in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Israel.
The agreement includes conducting joint projects for enhancing national cyber platforms and cooperating on workforce training initiatives.
It also includes increasing cyber resilience by sharing government cyber security know-how, best practices, legal and regulatory frameworks, methodologies and strategic insights.
Athener Abhörskandal: Premier weist Schuld von sich
„Das, was passiert ist, mag gesetzmäßig gewesen sein, aber es war falsch. Ich wusste davon nichts, und offensichtlich hätte ich so etwas auch nie genehmigt“, sagte der Regierungschef heute in einer Ansprache, die vom griechischen Rundfunk ERT übertragen wurde.
PM says espionage a mistake, pledges EYP overhaul
“Although everything was done lawfully, the National Intelligence Service (EYP) underestimated the political dimension of that particular action. It was formally legitimate, but politically unacceptable. It should not have happened [and it] undermined citizens’ confidence in national intelligence,” Mitsotakis said.
Greek PM apologizes to opposition party leader over surveillance, report says
The conservative premier is expected to make a public address over the case on Monday, the semi-state Athens News Agency reported on Saturday.
Androulakis, who was elected PASOK leader in December 2021, said on Friday evening that he had learned EYP listened to his conversations in late 2021. He did not disclose the source of the information.
Predator von Cytrox: Rücktritte nach Trojaner-Skandal in Griechenland
Der Netzwerk von Investigativjournalist:innen Reporters United hatte zuvor berichtet, wie ein Firmengeflecht unter Beteiligung von Dimitriadis an staatlichen Einsätzen des Trojaners mitverdient. Daran beteiligt ist die Firma Intellexa, die Predator in Griechenland vertreibt.
Weitere Brisanz erhält die Enthüllung auch dadurch, dass Dimitriadis und Mitsotakis verwandt sind: Der Generalsekretär ist der Neffe des Ministerpräsidenten, dem wiederum der Geheimdienst als Nutzer von Predator direkt untersteht.
Hersteller von Predator ist die von israelischen und ungarischen Staatsangehörigen als Aktiengesellschaft in Nordmazedonien gegründete Firma Cytrox. Sie soll in beiden Ländern Büros zur Herstellung der Cyberwaffen unterhalten. Cytrox gehört inzwischen zu einer Gesellschaft in Ungarn, als Eigentümer gilt der 70-jährige Luftwaffenveteran Meir Shamir aus Israel.