Spyware makers sentenced to prison in Greece for wiretapping politicians and journalists
Source: TechCrunch
Image Credits: Sudowoodo / Getty Images
Sentencing Overview
A Greek court on Thursday sentenced Tal Dilian, the founder of Intellexa—a collective of spyware makers—to eight years in prison for illegal wiretapping and privacy violations. The ruling follows investigations by Balkan Insight, Ekathimerini, Reuters, and The Times of Israel.
People Also Sentenced
- Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou – Dilian’s business partner.
- Felix Bitzios – Former deputy administrator and shareholder of Intellexa.
- Yiannis Lavranos – Owner of a company linked to Intellexa.
Background: “Greek Watergate”
The case stems from a scandal dubbed “Greek Watergate,” which began in 2022. According to prosecutors, the Greek government used Intellexa‑developed spyware to monitor:
- Politicians
- Journalists
- Businesspeople
- Military officials
This marks the first known instance of a spyware maker receiving a jail sentence for the misuse of their technology.
Prior U.S. Sanctions
In 2024, the United States sanctioned Intellexa, several affiliated companies, Tal Dilian, and Sara Hamou for creating the Predator spyware. The tool was allegedly employed to target Americans, including government officials and journalists.
Court Orders and Appeal
The Greek court ordered further investigations into the matter and stayed the sentence pending appeal. Dilian did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.