"EU’s PEGA Committee report on illegal surveillance in Greece" 30 May 2023

The European Parliament’s PEGA Committee report confirms the illegal surveillance of journalists, politicians, businessmen and senior members of the Armed Forces, both by the National Intelligence Service and by malicious Predator spyware.

On 8 May 2023, the PEGA Committee (the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry into the use of malicious spyware in the EU) adopted its final report on its investigation into the use of Predator in Greece, as well as other illegal software in EU Member States. 

In its observations, the PEGA Committee noted that Predator was used illegally in Greece “for political and economic gain”, at a time when “legislative amendments have weakened the safeguards” of the communications privacy framework. “This has resulted in spying software being used against journalists, politicians and businessmen and exported to countries with a negative human rights record.”

“Our investigation has made it clear that spy software has been used to violate fundamental rights and endanger democracy in many EU member states, with Poland and Hungary being the most glaring cases,” said PEGA’s chairman Jeroen Lenaers against the backdrop of the adoption of the PEGA report, with rapporteur Sophie In ‘t Veld adding: “The unfettered use of spy software available on the market without proper judicial oversight poses risks to European democracy as long as there is no accountability.”

PEGA’s report detailed the cases in which Predator was used illegally against targets in Greece, such as journalist Thanasis Koukakis, PASOK President Nikos Androulakis, former minister and SYRIZA MP Christos Spirtzis, and former security manager of Meta (Facebook) Artemis Seaford...