Greece returns to the hunt for “naughty”: arrests of Viber group administrators for warnings about road checkpoints

In Greece arrested administrators largest Viber groups, warning drivers about police ambushes. Authorities compare this to “the era of hunting” during COVID restrictions.

The scene is reminiscent of pandemic times: Greek authorities administrators of large Viber groups who warned drivers about road ambushes and new checks were detained Traffic Code (ΚΟК). Essentially, we are talking about digital “sentinels” who helped avoid thousands of fines – but now they face criminal prosecution.

Two groups numbered more than 200 thousand participants. The first, with an audience of about 168 thousand people, operated in the Attica region, the second – in Thessaloniki and Crete. Through these communities, users reported the coordinates of police posts, cameras and patrols in real time.

Who are they and why were they arrested?

According to the police, two men were detained – 29 and 55 years old. Both were administrators and moderated groups that acted as information centers for drivers. Users shared updates about ambushes, and administrators confirmed and published them.

Police allege that these chats helped systematically evade checks, thereby “undermining government efforts to ensure road safety.” It was the correspondence of the participants that became evidence – operatives easily penetrated closed chats, which proves how “transparent” such platforms are.

The new KOC is a source of mass discontent

Since the entry into force of the new Traffic Code Drivers complain about excessive fines and inappropriately low speed limits. Many argue that break the law even unknowinglysince the new restrictions are technically impossible.

Some activists decided to “help ordinary people” and created digital communities where they can warn about checks in order to avoid losing an entire month’s earnings due to an accidental excess. Now they face responsibility for this “help”.

Parallels with the COVID era

Many Greeks draw a direct analogy with at times of pandemicwhen authorities actively persecuted those who refused vaccination or violated lockdowns. Today, the same rhetoric—“protecting the public”—is used to justify the arrests of citizens who tried to circumvent excessive restrictions.

Critics see what’s happening new wave of digital control and increased police surveillance under the guise of security. At the same time, the bulk of violations are not malicious actions, but a consequence of unclear or excessive standards.

State against civil self-organization

The demonstrative arrests became a signal: the state will not tolerate even “peaceful resistance” to the new rules. As during the pandemic, now any exchange of information between citizens can be interpreted as undermining discipline.

Meanwhile, Viber group users are creating new channels using encrypted platforms and private chats. The Internet, like life, again turned out to be faster than bureaucracy.

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