The phone spyware scandal in Greece, often referred to as the country's Watergate, is now making its way through the courtroom as critics accuse the government of attempting to cover up its involvement. The trial involves two Israelis and two Greeks who are allegedly connected to the marketing of the notorious Predator spyware.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has publicly denounced the events as a scandal, yet no government officials have been charged, prompting accusations of an intentional governmental blind eye. The trial scheduled for Wednesday will see a low-ranking judge preside over the proceedings against the private individuals implicated in the spyware marketing.
The controversy began in 2022 when Nikos Androulakis, head of the socialist Pasok party, was notified by EU Parliament IT experts that his phone had been infected with malware. Known as Predator, this spyware can access a phone's messages, camera, and microphone, effectively turning it into a surveillance device.
As the investigation unfolded, it emerged that Androulakis had also been monitored for 'national security reasons' by Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP), which the Prime Minister had placed under his direct oversight shortly after taking office in 2019.
Despite the EYP's significant role in the crisis, no serving minister or military officer has filed complaints regarding the surveillance, raising suspicions about the lack of accountability at the governmental level. Reports indicated that at least 87 individuals were tracked using Predator, including current and former high-ranking officials.
The Greek Supreme Court recently declared there was no connection between government officials and the misuse of Predator, a statement that has done little to quell public outcry or opposition criticism, which asserts that the investigation has only scratched the surface of a much deeper crisis.
As the trial proceeds, there are calls for more transparency and for the government to break its silence regarding the scandal's broader implications on privacy, democracy, and governance in Greece. Many observers are left questioning how a scandal of this magnitude could unfold without any consequences for those at the top.
