ADAE: An electronic archive will record all surveillance, as major rule of law issues arise

By Vasilis Labropoulos

The Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy (ADAE) in September will acquire a "secret" electronic-digital archive that will automatically reveal the illegal surveillance of politicians, journalists, and others - beyond that of PASOK-KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis and two journalists that recently came to light and have stirred a political maelstrom.

The archive, as the Sunday To Vima reveals, will be able to automatically detect whether a telephone number was or still is on the surveillance list of the National Intelligence service (EYP) and of Greek Police (ELAS).

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That was not feasible until now because all related documents were only on paper and ADAE did not have the ability to properly process and juxtapose data.

ADAE raises questions regarding possible violations of rule of law

ADAE in its most recent report underlined the need for further investigation and of the danger of improprieties in the approval of surveillance by prosecutors without presenting any specific rationale for the surveillance [when the authority seeking the surveillance invokes reasons of "national security", with no further clarification].

Questions arise from the fact that individuals close to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' chief of staff, Grigoris Dimitriadis, who resigned on 5 August, told To Vima that he had no knowledge of the surveillance of Androulakis, and that he and the PM were informed simultaneously.

"He would be naïve to get involved in the surveillance of a political div and thus harm the government when that would be revealed," the source said.

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