Eight Greeks sue Intellexa over Predator spyware surveillance
Eight Greek citizens whose phones were infected with Predator spyware have filed a civil lawsuit against the surveillance technology company Intellexa and 13 individuals linked to the firm. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, seeks roughly €7.6 million ($8.7 million) in total damages.
The plaintiffs include a former Meta security manager, financial journalist Thanassis Koukakis, two lawyers, a former director of the Hellenic Police’s Forensic Laboratories, the ex-head of a Greek intelligence agency, journalist Spyridon Sideris, and a former intelligence and law enforcement official. Their lawyer, Zacharias Kesses, told Greek outlet Ekathimerini that the compensation is meant to address “the moral damage suffered by the victims from the illegal violation of their privacy, the confidentiality of their communications and their personal data.”
How the Predator spyware scandal unfolded
The scandal erupted in 2022 when forensic investigators found traces of Predator spyware on dozens of phones belonging to journalists, politicians, and business figures. The revelations triggered a political crisis. Greece’s intelligence service chief resigned, and so did the prime minister’s chief of staff. In February, a Greek court sentenced Intellexa’s founder, Tal Dilian, and three associates to more than 126 years in prison. Under Greek law, however, they will serve only eight years. They remain free while the appeals process plays out.
The lawsuit details “the structure, operation and division of roles of the network of companies and individuals associated with the development, distribution and use of Predator,” Kesses said. He called the legal action “the next institutional step towards full accountability of all those involved and redress for victims, both at national and European level.” A trial is scheduled to begin in April 2027.
Tal Dilian blames Greek government
In March, weeks after the prison sentences were handed down, Dilian gave an interview to a local news outlet claiming he was being made a scapegoat for the Greek government’s own wrongdoing. He insisted Intellexa sold Predator exclusively to government customers — in this case, the Greek government and its national intelligence agency. Dilian accused the government and intelligence agency of committing a “conspiratorial criminal act” designed to cover up their own malfeasance. He maintains Intellexa provides the spyware to government clients and has no role in selecting targets.
That defense hasn’t swayed the victims. The plaintiffs argue Intellexa and its associates bear direct responsibility for the illegal surveillance that invaded their private lives. The case is one of the first major civil lawsuits in Europe targeting a spyware manufacturer, and it could set a precedent for how courts handle privacy violations enabled by commercial surveillance tools.
What the victims are seeking
Each victim is claiming compensation for specific harms: invasion of privacy, breach of confidential communications, and misuse of personal data. The total €7.6 million demand reflects the severity of the violations, according to Kesses. The lawsuit also names 13 individuals tied to Intellexa, though Kesses did not specify their roles. The legal filings reportedly lay out the corporate structure and operational links between the companies and people involved in the Predator supply chain.
The case has drawn attention from privacy advocates across Europe. It highlights the growing tension between governments that buy spyware for law enforcement and the companies that manufacture it. Critics argue that once spyware is sold, vendors lose control over how it’s used — and that governments often target journalists, lawyers, and political opponents rather than criminals.
For the eight Greek plaintiffs, the lawsuit is about more than money. It’s about holding Intellexa accountable for building and selling a tool that was used to spy on them. The trial in 2027 will be a key test of whether spyware makers can be held liable for the actions of their government customers.
