Alleged Wiretapping Against Ministers, Greece Bans Sales Of Spyware

JAKARTA – Greece on Monday, November 7, said it would immediately ban the sale of spyware. The ban came after a newspaper reported that more than 30 people, including ministers and business people, had been brought under state surveillance via telephone malware.

A list of people whose cellphones were suspected of being infected with the Predator malware was published on Sunday, November 6 by the left-wing newspaper Documento. The media cited two sources who played a role in surveillance, allegedly on behalf of the government.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the report was unfounded because it showed no evidence that the government was behind the surveillance. "This is an incredible lie," Mitsotakis told broadcaster ANT1 in an interview.

Government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou earlier on Monday said the Greek state did not use or purchase such spyware and added that judicial authorities would investigate the latest reports.

Greece, according to him, will soon submit a bill to parliament that prohibits the sale of spyware. "We will not allow any shadow to linger on issues that poison Greek society," Oikonomou said, as quoted by Reuters.

The Documento report is the latest development in a wiretapping scandal that has sparked political uproar in Greece, as the European Union pays more attention to the use and sale of spyware. A Greek prosecutor also started an investigation earlier this year.

Most of the alleged targets, including the conservative former prime minister and the current foreign and finance ministers, declined to comment or told the paper they were not aware of the matter.

"It is shameful and disgusting for someone to imply that the prime minister is monitoring his foreign minister. And very dangerous," Mitsotakis said.

"We are not sure who runs the centers. What we really believe is that it is not the EYP (Greek intelligence service). And obviously I am not involved," Mitsotakis added.

In July, the leader of the Greek socialist opposition, Nikos Androulakis, filed a complaint with prosecutors over his attempted tapping of his cell phone with surveillance software.

The government, which faces elections in 2023, said at the time that the surveillance, which was not carried out through the disputed spyware program, was legal because it had been approved by prosecutors.

It was never explained why Androulakis was targeted, and Mitsotakis said he had no knowledge of the hack and would never approve of it.

A Greek prosecutor is also investigating allegations by a journalist that his smartphone was infected by surveillance software in operations by Greek intelligence services.