Court gives spy agency three months to hand over wiretap file on journalist

Greece’s highest administrative tribunal has ordered the National Intelligence Service (EYP) to submit within three months the authoritative record connected the lifting of the confidentiality of the communications of investigative writer Thanasis Koukakis.

The ruling, issued Monday, concerns a lawsuit brought by Koukakis seeking entree to records related to the monitoring of his telephone communications by the quality service.

He turned to the tribunal aft the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy (ADAE), the country’s communications privateness watchdog, said EYP had not provided the applicable surveillance documentation for review.

The tribunal instructed EYP to submit the authoritative record concerning the lifting of the confidentiality of the journalist’s communications, on with immoderate related information. It added that if the documents person been destroyed, the bureau indispensable specify the ineligible ground for their destruction.

Judges said EYP had failed to supply reasons for the surveillance and had offered contradictory statements astir whether records were preserved.

The tribunal ruled there were nary grounds for refusing to nutrient the documents, including classified material, saying the deficiency of disclosure had prevented ADAE from exercising its oversight powers.

The tribunal said it would marque a last judgement connected Koukakis’ lawsuit when it receives the record from EYP.  

In February, 4 businesspeople linked to sanctioned spyware shaper Intellexa were recovered blameworthy of violating the confidentiality of telephone communications successful a large lawsuit involving the amerciable wiretapping of politicians, journalists, concern leaders and elder subject officials that was revealed successful 2022.

Koukakis was among those placed under surveillance.