Intellexa founder to appeal conviction in Greek spyware case

Tal Dilian, the founder of spyware maker Intellexa, is planning to appeal his eight-year prison sentence following his conviction in February. The Greek court handed down the conviction against Dilian and other Intellexa executives on charges that they illegally obtained personal data as part of a mass-wiretapping campaign in Greece. Dilian’s planned appeal marks a significant escalation in the legal fallout surrounding the spyware company. His challenge includes the suggestion that the Greek government authorized the use of the Predator spyware, which has been at the center of the political scandal. The legal battle highlights the growing pressure on Intellexa and its leadership as courts examine the unauthorized deployment of surveillance tools.

The wiretapping scandal, colloquially referred to as the “Greek Watergate,” involved the hacking of phones belonging to senior officials and journalists. In a statement first reported by Reuters on Wednesday, Dilian asserted that he will not be a “scapegoat” in the affair. “I believe a conviction without evidence is not ⁠justice, it could be part of a cover-up and even a crime,” Dilian said. Critics have previously accused the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of a cover-up, as no government officials have been convicted in connection with the surveillance. Dilian’s defense rests on the claim that his conviction for illegally obtaining personal data was decided without sufficient evidence, which he suggests could be part of a broader cover-up. By challenging the ruling, the Intellexa founder is pushing back against the legal findings, claiming that the responsibility for the wiretapping campaign does not lie solely with the technology providers.

Dilian maintains that surveillance technologies like Predator are typically sold only to governments, which bear responsibility for using them lawfully. This follows sanctions imposed by the U.S. government in 2024 against Dilian after the spyware was found targeting American officials. The sanctions make it effectively illegal for anyone to enter into business transactions with Dilian. These restrictions prevent individuals and entities from engaging in commercial activities with the sanctioned founder. Meanwhile, the Greek embassy in Washington, D.C. did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Why it matters

Dilian’s challenge to his conviction is the most direct suggestion yet that the Greek government authorized the use of Predator spyware against officials and journalists, potentially exposing a state-level cover-up.