Petition by N. Androulakis for his monitoring through Predator

LAST UPDATE: 09.55

Nikos Androulakis complained about Predator monitoring of his telephone device – and in fact before the internal party proceedings of KINAL, in September 2021, filing a complaint with the Supreme Court.

Sources of Harilaou Trikoupi, in fact, referring to the incident, emphasize:

“1. Following the disclosure of the “Pegasus” software monitoring scandals, the European Parliament created a Special Service, through which MEPs could check their telephone devices for possible infections by illegal monitoring software. We remind you that Pegasus is a malware that belongs to the category of spyware.It is designed to invade devices without notifying the user, gather whatever information it wants and then disappear.

2. On June 28, 2022, Mr. Androulakis made use of this Parliament service for precautionary reasons. From the first check carried out on the device of the President of PASOK – Movement for Change, it was seen the presence of a suspicious link (link) connected to the illegal Predator surveillance software. Predator is a surveillance tool that gives its operator full and permanent access to the target’s device. Predator allows the operator to extract secret codes [passwords], files, photos, web browsing history, contacts as well as identity data (such as mobile device information). Predator can take screenshots [screen captures]to record the user’s entries [στο κινητό του], and can also activate the device’s microphone and camera. This enables attackers to monitor any action taking place on or near a device, such as conversations taking place within a room. Predator also allows its operator to record text messages sent or received (including those sent via “encrypted applications”) as well as simple and VoIP phone calls (including telephone conversations via “encrypted” applications).

3. Following Parliament’s relevant security protocol which was activated immediately, a copy of the device was created so that a more detailed check could be carried out. Then, following a proposal from the competent services of the European Parliament, an additional check was carried out on Mr. Androulakis’ device. After the completion of these checks, the services of the Parliament drew up the relevant Report which they delivered to Mr. Androulakis in the previous days.

4. According to what is described there, Mr. Androulakis received a text message on September 21, 2021, i.e. shortly before the start of the internal party procedures, on his device inviting him to click on a specific link, which according to a Citizens report Lab of the University of Toronto is used as bait to install the Predator tracking software on the target’s cell phone. The message read precisely: “Let’s get serious mate, we have something to win” and followed the link, which was a spoof of a website that exists and works properly. Although the message appears to have been read an hour after it was received, the fact that Mr. Androulakis never clicked on the link is what appears to have spared him the worst of it. In other words, there was an attempt to trap Mr. Androulakis’ phone, which was prevented thanks to Mr. Androulakis’ foresight not to follow the link that would trap his phone. It is noted that in the more than 200 MEPs’ mobile controls that have been carried out by the European Parliament, this was the first case in which an attempt to infect a personal telephone device was found. Technical advisors also do not rule out listening with other systems that leave no traces.

5. In addition to the indictment submitted today to Mr. Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Mrs. Vera Jourova, the competent Commissioner, Mr. Didier Reynders, the President of the Socialist Group, Mrs. Iratxe Garcia Perez, have been informed about the matter by letters President of the European Parliament Ms. Roberta Metsola and members of the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus software and related spyware tracking software.

6. This is a serious case of attempted violation of the privacy of telephone communications in Greece. No attempt was made to violate only the privacy of Mr. Androulakis and the confidentiality of his communications, which according to the Constitution is absolutely inviolable. Attempts were made to undermine his political activity and by extension the free functioning of the democratic state is at stake. Those hunting Mr. Androulakis (predator = hunter) sought not only to listen to his calls and messages, but also to turn Mr. Androulakis’ device into a means of constant monitoring.

7. Immediate action must be taken by all relevant bodies to find those who attempted this crude attempt to trap the current President of the country’s third parliamentary party. Political parties and all institutional actors must join their voices for the clearance of this case.”