Widespread calls for investigation of ongoing Greek surveillance scandal
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has accepted calls for an investigation into allegations that one of his political rivals and a journalist were being surveilled via their mobile phones. Mitsotakis claims that he was unaware that the phone of PASOK party leader Nikos Androulakis was compromised, and would not have authorised any attempt to do so.
In response to the Greek allegations, European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said, “Any attempt by national security services to illegally access data of citizens, including journalists and political opponents, if confirmed, is unacceptable.”
Following a series of media reports in 2021, the European institutions have become increasingly concerned about the use of such surveillance systems in EU member states. The European Parliament is currently investigating the use of NSO Group’s Pegasus system and other kinds of malware, which tend to supplied to – and used by – governments and law enforcement bodies rather than private individuals.
Mitsotakis has come under heavy pressure from his domestic political opponents, including the former ruling SYRIZA who likened the scandal to Watergate, has agreed to an early end to Parliament’s summer recess Aug. 22, and an official investigation.
The scope of the inquiry, however, remains unclear. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said there should be an inquiry but did not clarify if it would take place under the authority of Parliament, which is currently controlled by the ruling New Democracy party, or an independent panel.
Cypriot MEP George Georgiou, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Pegasus investigation, has also called for an investigation into the claims. The eavesdropping allegations came to light after Androulakis – who is also an MEP - discovered an attempt to install Predator spyware on his cell phone in September, 2021, three months before took on leadership of PASOK.
Predator, which is produced by spyware vendor Cytrox, can unlock access to encrypted messages and activate cameras and microphones on mobile devices, allowing hackers access to passwords, text and voice messages, compromising journalists and sources too. Androulakis, who is launching a legal action over the incident, has said he believes that the suspicious text message he received, was ultimately initiated by Greece's National Intelligence Service (EYP).
Former EYP chief Panagiotis Kontoleon has already admitted that the agency was responsible for the spyware that infected the phone of financial reporter Thanasis Koukakis. That admission, made in the course testimony to a Greek parliamentary committee, led to Kontoleon tendering his resignation at Mitsotakis’ request.
“Although everything was done lawfully, the National Intelligence Service (EYP) underestimated the political dimension of that particular action. It was formally adequate, but politically unacceptable. It should not have happened and it undermined citizens’ confidence in national intelligence,” Mitsotakis said at the time.
The current scandal only increases the suspicion that the dissemination of spyware in Greece is widespread. The newspaper Kathimerini has suggested that the number of targets could be as high as 15,475.
While Kontoleon maintained that Androulakis was monitored “in the national interest” and at the request of Ukrainian and Armenian intelligence services, given PASOK’s position as Greece’s third-largest political party, a domestic motivation for the surveillance can not be excluded.
That certainly seems to be the preferred explanation of other political actors in Greece
In the wake of the current revelations, Mitsotakis offered Androulakis an apology and private briefing. This has been refused. Syriza leader and former premier Alexis Tsipras said:
“Instead of hypocritical apologies and lies, Mr. Mitsotakis should say which other politicians and journalists have been followed.”
“This is not a huge and unforgivable mistake. It’s a huge scandal that represents the unforgivable arrogance of a regime, of a Prime Minister that thought no one could control him.”