A notorious spyware scandal in Greece, resembling the infamous Watergate affair, is moving into court proceedings as allegations and political ramifications rise. The case centers on advanced surveillance technology that has allegedly targeted the mobile phones of government ministers, senior military personnel, judges, and journalists.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has denounced the situation as a scandal, yet no government officials have faced criminal charges, leading critics to accuse the government of attempting to obscure the truth behind the controversy.

Instead of addressing high-profile culpability, a low-ranking judge will hear cases against four individuals—two from Israel and two Greeks—who are implicated in the distribution of Predator spyware, marketed by the Israeli firm Intellexa.

The controversy escalated after Nikos Androulakis, the current head of the socialist party Pasok and a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), was alerted by EU Parliament's IT experts about a malicious message that infected his phone with spyware in the summer of 2022.

This invasive technology, capable of accessing personal messages, cameras, and microphones, was reportedly employed in the surveillance of at least 87 individuals, coinciding with operations by Greece's National Intelligence Service (EYP).

The fallout finds the conservative government under scrutiny, especially following PM Mitsotakis's controversial decision to place EYP under his direct oversight shortly after taking office in 2019. This decision resulted in the resignation of both the head of EYP and the prime minister's aide amid ongoing questions about accountability and due process.

Despite the Greek government's insistence on no connection between its operations and the spyware, critics highlight the troubling overlap of targets subjected to EYP's surveillance and those compromised by the Predator software.

In an ironic twist of legal maneuvering, the government introduced a new law intended to solidify its communications' confidentiality, raising alarms over potential violations of privacy rights for citizens, allowing authorities to act with more discretion.

International bodies, including the European Parliament, have begun in-depth inquiries into Greece's handling of this crisis, further igniting concerns about government transparency and the chilling effects of such surveillance practices on free speech and civil liberties.

As this legal saga evolves, the Greek populace remains in suspense, questioning the true extent of surveillance practices under the current regime and the government's commitment to justice and democratic values.

}