Greek Intelligence implicated in "Predatorgate" AI-powered spyware scandal
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Occurred: 2022-
Page published: December 2025
Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) has been accused of illegally surveilling politicians, journalists and others using AI-enabled “Predator” spyware, drawing scrutiny over state secrecy, poor accountability, and potential violations of privacy and democratic norms.
What happened
What happened
Beginning in 2020 and peaking in 2021–2022, a sprawling surveillance operation targeted at least 92 individuals in Greece, including investigative journalist Thanasis Koukakis, PASOK party leader Nikos Androulakis, and various cabinet ministers and businessmen.
The incident involved the use of Predator, a highly invasive AI-powered spyware developed by the Intellexa alliance (specifically Cytrox). Targets largely received malicious SMS messages, often masquerading as legitimate news links or vaccination appointment reminders, which, once clicked, granted operators full access to the device’s microphone, camera, encrypted messages (WhatsApp/Signal), and files.
The targets suffered extreme privacy violations and the exposure of sensitive professional information. More broadly, the scandal revealed that the Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP) had simultaneously placed several of these same targets under "lawful" wiretapping, suggesting a coordinated effort to use illegal spyware to bypass the limitations of legal surveillance.
Trials are ongoing against three former Intellexa executives (including founder Tal Dilian and Sara Hamou) and one executive from the Greek security contractor Krikel for alleged illegal interception and communications privacy breaches. Prosecutors’ investigations have drawn criticism, however, for failing to conclusively attribute state agency direction, dismissing some links between EYP and compromised numbers as a “minor proportion” despite confirmed cases.
Why it happened
Why it happened
The controversy stems from a lack of robust oversight and transparency around Greece’s intelligence apparatus and its engagement with commercial spyware vendors.
Originally developed by a Macedonia-founded company later integrated into Intellexa, Predator employs advanced “1-click” and evolving “zero-click” infection techniques that exploit vulnerabilities to install deep surveillance on targets’ devices.
Greek judicial inquiries have been accused of underusing evidence, and the country's political leadership has been sharpy criticised for shielding agencies from meaningful accountability.
Critics argue that institutional limitations on external oversight, combined with opaque procurement and operational practices, allowed the technology’s deployment without clear legal or ethical safeguards.
What it means
What it means
The episode triggered intense political debate, public outrage, and calls for deeper judicial scrutiny.
For those directly targeted, it represents a "digital kidnapping" of their private and professional lives and a direct threat to their safety and professional integrity.
For society, "Predatorgate" created a "chilling effect" on investigative journalism, as reporters now fear that their sources and movements are constantly monitored. TIt is also seen to signify a significant democratic backsliding within the EU.
The closure of the domestic criminal investigation in 2024, which resulted only in misdemeanour charges against Intellexa company executives while exonerating state agencies, further eroded public trust in the judiciary and the concept of equal justice, as well as in Greece's intelligence agencies.
System 🤖
System 🤖
Predator
Developer: Cytrox; Intellexa
Country: Greece
Sector: Media/entertainment/sports/arts; Politics; Religion
Purpose: Monitor public figures
Technology: Anomaly detection; Machine learning; NLP/text analysis
Issue: Accountability; Human/civil rights; Normalisation; Privacy/surveillance; Transparency
Research, advocacy 🧮
Research, advocacy 🧮
Investigations, assessments, audits 👁️
Investigations, assessments, audits 👁️
InsideStory. Intellexa Leaks: New Predator victims despite US sanctions
Hellenic Data Protection Authority. Επιβολή προστίμου στην εταιρεία Intellexa για μη συνεργασία με την Αρχή
CitizenLab. Pegasus vs. Predator. Dissident’s Doubly-Infected iPhone Reveals Cytrox Mercenary Spyware
News, commentary, analysis 🗞️
News, commentary, analysis 🗞️
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/27/world/europe/eu-spyware-predator-pegasus.html
https://insidestory.gr/article/who-was-tracking-mobile-phone-journalist-thanasis-koukakis
https://www.politico.eu/article/greek-government-spying-regulators-wiretapping-predatorgate-scandal/
https://therecord.media/spyware-company-intellexa-fined-e50000-for-holding-up-greek-inquiry
AIAAIC Repository ID: AIAAIC1044
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