Greece To Ban Sale of Spyware After Government Is Accused of Surveillance

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that Greece would ban the sale of spyware, after his government was accused in a news report of targeting dozens of prominent politicians, journalists and businessmen for surveillance, and the judicial authorities began an investigation. From a report: The announcement is the latest chapter in a scandal that erupted over the summer, when Mr. Mitsotakis conceded that Greece's state intelligence service had been monitoring an opposition party leader with a traditional wiretap last year. That revelation came after the politician discovered that he had also been targeted with a spyware program known as Predator.

The Greek government said the wiretap was legal but never specified the reasons for it, and Mr. Mitsotakis said it was done without his knowledge. The government has also asserted that it does not own or use the Predator spyware, and has insisted that the simultaneous targeting with a wiretap and Predator was a coincidence.

Re:

[drinkypoo]

Anti-missile systems and propaganda. Shame we can't get one without the other, we're only short on the former.

moment of pride for this greek!

[gTsiros]

hold on, he said WHAT?!?

"we will make forbidden all illegal malicious softwareS which can be sold in greece"

that is the translation of what he said (plural included) and, contrary to what one would expect from a translation, it sounds even stupider in greek.

try not to think of that sentence too much. ... guys, is it possible for me to completely change citizenship? Please?

Re:

[kurkosdr]

It may sound weird, but just because it's illegal for you to distribute and remotely operate malicious software, it may not be illegal for state intelligence services to distribute and remotely operate malicious software (as long as they have a court order). I mean, there is an entire company in Italy (called "Hacking Team") which specializes in selling malicious software to governments. Much like how it's illegal for you to wiretap anyone but it's not illegal for state intelligence services to do so (as lo

Re:

[gregarican]

My former boss still uses the term "softwares" when talking about multiple options from vendors. He's of Germanic descent, but like four generations removed. He also mispronounces "Ethernet," with an initial short E vowel sound, which is mind boggling as well.

Re:

[_merlin]

I've heard Ethernet with a short "E" from plenty of native English speakers.

Re:

[K. S. Kyosuke]

He also mispronounces "Ethernet," with an initial short E vowel sound

English speakers have been mispronouncing the first "E" in "Ether" for centuries.

Sold in Greece?

[vlad30]

More than likely bought from another country by some other country and installed by idiot politicians/journalists when they get a phishing email, They would have more success in banning idiot politicians/journalists

Good luck with that

[Virtucon]

I was at a presentation when the presenter brought up a case in Canada that was a trial of a murderer that involved some grizzly details. Anyway, the judge banned news coverage of the trial which I guess is or was legal there, I don't know.
The judge even ordered the RCMP to seize US newspapers from people entering Canada for fear that they would have covered the trial.

The importance here was his conclusion: "You may be able to block something to a point locally or even within borders, but you can't block it

Re: Good luck with that

[easyTree]

I applaud their skill. I would find it a challenge to seize a newspaper from someone whilst on horseback.

Won't actually affect the government

[whoever57]

" Mr. Mitsotakis offered no details about how a ban on spyware sales would work, or how it would affect spyware use."

It will "work" in that non-government entities will be unable to buy the spyware. For secret and semi-secret agencies within the government, it will be business as usual.