The Greek parliament approved a bill to reform its intelligence service (EYP). The legislation also prohibits the sale spyware. This legislation is an attempt by the government to lessen the impact of the phone tap scandal, which remains under investigation.
The case has increased pressure on the conservative government which is up for election in 2023. Nikos Androulakis, socialist PASOK in Greece, made the case public. He claimed that EYP had listened in 2021 to his conversations.
He had previously filed a complaint against the prosecutors regarding an attempted hacking on his phone with surveillance software.
Private use of spyware is now a felony. You could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
It also creates an academy for counterintelligence to train EYP staff and a unit that investigates instances of breach of duty.
Only EYP and the anti-terrorism group can request permission from a prosecutor for individuals to be monitored over a variety of crimes specified in the bill. The request must be signed by a second prosecutor.
Monitoring politicians can only be done for national security reasons. Any such requests must be approved by the speaker of parliament.
The prosecutors may allow the persons affected to be informed about surveillance three years later if they consent.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitters described the bill to be a “brave institution reaction” to a problem beyond Greece.
Mitsotakis took EYP control after he was elected to office in 2019. Androulakis he apologised to him , saying that EYP was legal but unacceptable politically.
PASOK charged the government with complicity in asking opposition members to vote for the bill prior to the vote.
Michael Katrinis, an official of the party, stated that the case had not been closed and would remain open until the truth is revealed.
Documento, a leftist newspaper reported that more than 30 people were under surveillance by the state via telephone malware. The government then announced its intent to prohibit spyware sales.
The government denied any involvement in the case.
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