The long-running surveillance controversy in Greece has entered a new and explosive phase after the founder of the commercial spyware firm Intellexa stated that his company sells its technology exclusively to governments. The admission has reignited fierce political debate in Athens, with opposition parties arguing that the statement undermines the government’s longstanding claim that the controversial spyware was operated solely by private actors.

Tal Dilian, a former Israeli intelligence officer and founder of the Intellexa consortium, made the comments in a written statement to the Greek investigative television program “MEGA Stories.” His remarks came just weeks after he and several associates were convicted in a landmark wiretapping case that exposed widespread use of the Predator spyware platform in Greece.

Dilian was sentenced to more than 126 years in prison-alongside three co-defendants-for their roles in deploying the spyware in what prosecutors described as an extensive domestic surveillance operation. Although the cumulative sentences appear severe, Greek law caps the maximum time served for such convictions at eight years. All four defendants retain the right to appeal the ruling.

The case centers on the Predator spyware, a highly sophisticated surveillance tool capable of infiltrating smartphones and extracting sensitive data, including messages, contacts, and microphone recordings. Predator belongs to a class of digital espionage technologies increasingly used by governments worldwide, often under the justification of combating terrorism or organized crime. However, critics warn that such tools can easily be abused to monitor journalists, political opponents, and civil society figures.

In his statement, Dilian insisted that Intellexa itself does not conduct surveillance operations. Instead, he emphasized that the company provides its technology strictly to government authorities operating under legal frameworks.

“We operate strictly under European and international export regulations, providing technology exclusively to authorized........

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