Greece’s Predator spyware scandal took a dramatic turn after Tal Dilian, one of the four men recently convicted in the case, made remarks during a television interview that appeared to contradict the government’s long-standing position on the affair.
Speaking to the investigative program Mega Stories, Dilian — a former Israeli soldier and founder of the surveillance technology company Intellexa — said his firm provides its technology “only to governments and law enforcement agencies.”
The statement marks the first time Dilian’s side has publicly addressed the question of who the company’s clients were, and it quickly fueled political reactions in Athens.
The government has previously argued that the surveillance scandal was a matter involving private actors operating independently. Dilian’s remarks, however, suggest that the company’s clients were state authorities.
Dilian Defends Company, Denies Responsibility
Dilian in his statement maintained that neither he nor his company were responsible for the alleged surveillance activities.
He said Intellexa operates strictly under European and international export regulations and supplies technology only to government authorities and law enforcement bodies. According to Dilian, the company does not conduct surveillance itself and does not retain operational access to systems after they are delivered.
“The responsibility for the lawful use of these technologies lies with the authorities that acquire and operate them,” he said.
Dilian also said his legal team would study the written ruling of the Athens court once it is finalized and would continue efforts to prove his innocence through legal means.
He argued that during the trial no evidence or testimony had directly linked him to the acts attributed to the defendants.
Export Activity Already Examined in Court
Evidence presented during the trial had already established that the Predator spyware had been exported to third countries.
Testimony indicated that export licenses for the surveillance software were issued through Greece’s Foreign Ministry. During the proceedings, a former employee connected to one of the defendants testified that she had contacted the ministry — on instructions from businessman Giannis Lavranos — in order to obtain the necessary export permits.
After the surveillance affair became public, a senior official involved in the ministry’s administrative structure was removed from his post and later assumed a position within the governing New Democracy party. He was never called to testify in the case.
Androulakis: “The Prime Minister Cannot Hide”
The remarks by Dilian prompted an immediate response from Nikos Androulakis, leader of PASOK and one of the confirmed targets of the Predator spyware.
In a statement, Androulakis argued that Dilian’s comments directly undermine the government’s explanation of the scandal.
Quoting Dilian’s assertion that Intellexa provided services only to governments and law enforcement authorities, Androulakis said the statement effectively links the use of Predator in Greece to state institutions.
He accused the government of promoting a narrative that the surveillance was carried out by private actors acting independently. “That narrative has now collapsed,” Androulakis said. The opposition leader also called on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to respond publicly, arguing that he could no longer claim ignorance following Dilian’s statement.
Androulakis repeated his demand for a parliamentary debate on the surveillance scandal, saying the issue must be discussed urgently in the Greek parliament. He added that the persistence of those seeking accountability in the case had begun to shed light on what he described as “dark practices” surrounding the operation of the spyware system.
