Former Greece intelligence head denies spyware allegations

The former head of Greece’s EYP intelligence service, Panagiotis Kontoleon, has refuted claims that the agency employed illegal spyware between 2019 and 2022. The allegations, which emerged in 2022, prompted a scandal that led to his resignation and that of the prime minister’s general secretary. The controversy centres around Predator spyware, developed by the surveillance firm Cytrox, which was reportedly used to infect the phones of various individuals, including journalists and politicians.

Kontoleon, who led EYP during the period in question, testified in closed hearings that the agency did not acquire or use Predator software. The testimony follows allegations that the phones of opposition party leader Nikos Androulakis and journalist Thanasis Koukakis, among others, were compromised by this spyware. Despite these claims, the EYP has not disclosed the reasons for the surveillance to those affected.

The Greek government has maintained that monitoring was lawful and part of standard wiretapping procedures. Kontoleon emphasised that a prosecutor authorised all wiretapping operations and that his political supervisors were not involved in operational decisions regarding targets or methods. Similarly, Grigoris Dimitriadis, who served as the general secretary and political supervisor, also testified against the use of illegal spyware.

In July, Tal Dilian, founder of Intellexa, which owns Cytrox, denied any involvement or misconduct related to the spyware allegations. This ongoing case raises questions about privacy and government surveillance in Greece.