Recent developments in Slovakia and Greece bring to the fore a worrying phenomenon: the increasing use and legalisation of spyware surveillance software, raising critical questions about privacy and accountability across the European Union.
According to journalists’ reports, the Slovak Intelligence Service may be using Pegasus spyware, known for its extensive surveillance capabilities. At the same time, Greece is proceeding with the adoption of a Presidential Decree that would legalise the use of spyware, following the provisions of Law 5002/2022, without having included the Personal Data Protection Authority and the Authority for Communication Security and Privacy in the relevant consultations, as Homo Digitalis revealed in August 2024.
These actions risk setting a dangerous precedent, threatening privacy rights and democratic principles.
In response, the Centre of Technology and Democracy Europe (CDT Europe) together with Homo Digitalis and European Digital Rights (EDRi), Access Now ARTICLE 19, Civil Liberties Union for Europe, Electronic Privacy Information Center, epicenter.works, European Federation of Journalists, Társaság a Szabadságjogokért – Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Privacy International and Wikimedia Europe have submitted a joint letter to members of the European Parliament, calling for immediate action:
- We call on the European Parliament to demand transparency from the Slovak and Greek governments to reveal the full extent of these developments.
- Upcoming legislative developments in Greece should be developed in consultation with the national independent authorities.
- Investigations into the use of spyware, such as PREDATOR in Greece, must be full, independent and capable of bringing justice to the victims.
You can read our open letter here.