Greece Supreme Court Clears Intelligence Agency in Malware Scandal

The Greek Supreme Court prosecutor concluded that the intelligence agency (EYP) did not use illegal phone malware to spy on targets. The investigation was initiated by allegations from an opposition leader and a journalist in 2022, but the court found no evidence to support the claims against EYP.

Greece's Supreme Court prosecutor has ended a case against the intelligence service, EYP, stating that a preliminary probe showed no evidence that the agency employed illegal phone malware to spy on individuals, Athens News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The case, initially raised by an opposition party leader and a journalist in 2022, centered around allegations of state surveillance through phone malware.

Journalist Thanasis Koukakis, who was monitored by EYP, claimed his phone was infected with Predator spyware developed by Cytrox. This spyware was later found on numerous other phones, including those of politicians and journalists, as confirmed by the independent telecom privacy authority ADAE.

Following an investigation, the prosecutor declared that there was no involvement of state agencies or government officials with the spyware Predator or similar software. This development comes amid European Union concerns about spyware and led to the resignations of EYP's then-head Panagiotis Kontoleon and the general secretary to the prime minister.

Kontoleon, who served as EYP chief from 2019 to 2022, denied any use of such malware when he testified in May. The prosecutor recommended further examination of the legal representatives from private companies involved with Predator. Intellexa's founder Tal Dilian, also denied any involvement.

(With inputs from agencies.)