Governments Face Scrutiny Over Spyware Abuse and Lack of Accountability
European spyware victims struggle for justice as governments hide behind national security claims.
1Systemic Spyware Abuse in Europe
European journalists and activists face persistent surveillance through invasive spyware like Predator and Pegasus. Victims endure years of legal uncertainty as governments invoke national security to shield operations. Despite clear evidence of device compromise, including camera and microphone access, accountability remains elusive across multiple jurisdictions, leaving targets without effective legal recourse.
2First Conviction for Predator Spyware
On February 26, an Athens court convicted four executives linked to Intellexa, including founder Tal Dilian. They received suspended prison sentences of up to eight years for illegal data access and privacy violations. While this marks a rare legal milestone, authorities have yet to identify the specific entities who ordered the surveillance.
3Political Targeting and Manipulation
Polish politician Krzysztof Brejza had his phone infected with Pegasus during an election campaign. Attackers accessed 85,000 messages and manipulated conversations, which were later broadcast on national television to discredit him. A 2026 parliamentary inquiry confirmed the spyware was purchased unlawfully to target political opponents, yet criminal investigations remain slow.
4National Security as a Shield
In Spain and Hungary, victims are denied basic information regarding their surveillance due to national security claims. Hungarian law allows the justice minister to authorize monitoring, effectively blocking transparency. Amnesty International researchers describe this as double victimization, where targets suffer invasive technology attacks followed by dead ends in judicial systems.
5Failed European Policy Recommendations
Following the 2021 Pegasus scandal, the European Parliament’s PEGA committee proposed an EU fund for legal costs and independent forensic labs in 2023. Three years later, MEPs report that the Commission and member states have implemented none of these safeguards. Governments continue to prioritize state secrecy over protecting citizens from illegal digital intrusions.
6The Greek Surveillance Nexus
Journalist Thanasis Koukakis discovered his phone was compromised by Predator after years of investigation. Court records indicate nearly one-third of those targeted in 2020 and 2021 were also under official Greek intelligence surveillance. Despite these findings, the Supreme Court prosecutor refused to reopen the case, forcing Koukakis to seek justice in Strasbourg.
7Surveillance of Civil Society
In Italy, activists from Mediterranea Saving Humans were targeted with Paragon’s Graphite spyware. While the government justified this as an investigation into irregular immigration, victims believe the surveillance aimed to suppress evidence of migrant abuses in Libya. Italy’s parliamentary oversight body ultimately ruled these specific surveillance operations to be legally compliant.
8Erosion of Democratic Accountability
The widespread use of spyware against political opponents and journalists signals a dangerous shift in European governance. Without transparent oversight or consequences for state actors, the reliance on national security exemptions undermines fundamental rights. The lack of progress in criminal prosecutions suggests that current legal frameworks are insufficient to deter state-sponsored digital espionage.