Computer network security

One of the key figures in Greece's spiraling wiretapping case still owns a 35% stake of Intellexa, which sells Predator spyware in Greece, despite attempts to show that he had sold the stake, a report revealed on Wednesday.

A request by two prosecutors last year to check whether the 92 people targeted by illegal spyware Predator had also been surveilled by the country's intelligence service, EYP, remains pending four months after it was submitted to the independent authority responsible for privacy, ADAE.

The Treasury Department announced Tuesday it has sanctioned two people and a Greece-based commercial spyware company headed by a former Israeli military officer that developed, operated and distributed technology used to target U.S. government officials, journalists and policy experts.

The European Parliament on Wednesday called on the Commission to act over what it described as "grave concerns" about the rule of law in Greece, citing a hostile environment for journalists, the use of spyware against political opponents and journalists and abuse of power by the police.

MEPs adopted the resolution with 330 votes in favor, 254 against, and 26 abstentions.

The United States on Monday announced a new visa restriction policy for those it said were misusing commercial spyware.

More than 15 months after the Data Protection Authority started an investigation on the bugged cellphones of public officials and other individuals, it is still not yet clear who sent some of the spyware-infected messages.

Eleven people whose phones were infected with illegal spyware Predator received a message from the same phone number, according to a report by Mega channel on Wednesday, in new revelations pertaining to the ongoing judicial investigation into Greece's spyware scandal.

The US Commerce Department on Tuesday added two European-based surveillance firms to its economic trade blacklist as part of efforts by President Joe Biden's administration to counter the misuse of commercial spyware.

IT companies in Greece are more optimistic over hiring intentions in the third quarter of 2023, with the hiring intentions rate rising to 39% from 27% in the first quarter and 6% in the second quarter of the year, ManpowerGroup said in a report on Monday.

Dutch MEP and president of the spyware investigation committee Sophie in 't Veld presents draft findings of the inquiry in Brussels, November 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET