115 Politicians, Business Figures and Journalists Spied On

A list of 115 alleged surveillance targets connected to the Predator spyware scandal has emerged, revealing that ministers, MPs, opposition figures, journalists and businesspeople were among those monitored.

The list, published by the news website of To Vima, was compiled by the Hellenic Data Protection Authority and has become known as the “Menoudakos List”, after the authority’s former president Konstantinos Menoudakos.

The disclosure follows the recent conviction of Tal Dilian, Giannis Lavranos, Felix Bitzios and Sara Hamou in connection with the Predator spyware case.

According to the report, all individuals whose phone numbers were identified as potential targets of the malicious software had previously been notified through personal letters sent by Menoudakos. However, only five of them pursued legal action.

Among those who filed a complaint was Nikos Androulakis, leader of the PASOK – Movement for Change. Most of the others reportedly chose not to take legal action.

Government response

The government’s official position regarding ministers who did not file complaints has been expressed by officials including Pavlos Marinakis, Giorgos Mylonakis and Nikos Dendias.

They argued that no complaints were necessary because the alleged offences were prosecutable ex officio and the letters from the independent authority had already been forwarded to the justice system.

However, the Single-Member Misdemeanours Court acquitted the defendants of illegal access to an information system and terminated prosecution for victims who had not filed complaints, ruling that this specific offence was not prosecuted automatically by the state.

Questions over state involvement

Further questions have emerged regarding the absence of the Greek state as a supporting party in the prosecution during the trial, particularly as the case is now also being examined for potential espionage involving foreign nationals.

Evidence presented in court reportedly indicated links between some Predator targets and individuals who had been placed under lawful surveillance by the National Intelligence Service of Greece.

To date, the intelligence service has declined to implement a decision by the Council of State requiring authorities to inform those monitored about the reasons they had been placed under surveillance.

The refusal has prompted appeals to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, while the latest court ruling is expected to be discussed in the European Parliament in the near future.

The list includes politicians such as Adonis Georgiadis, Niki Kerameus, Antonis Samaras, Vasilis Kikilias, Konstantinos Hatzidakis and Andreas Loverdos, alongside media organisations and companies, highlighting the extensive reach of the alleged surveillance network.