February 8, 2026

Athens News

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PredatorGate: how Mitsotakis traded the surveillance scandal for political “indulgence” from the EU and the US


PredatorGate revealed how government surveillance became a private business around Intellexa And KRIKELand evidence was destroyed by direct command.

Continuation. Start in publication Intellexa-KRIKEL trial for Predator

Nephew’s resignation Kyriakos Mitsotakisthe disappearance of flash drives and the “pounds i.o.” scheme turning the Predator case into the most high-profile political shadow of recent years.

PredatorGate hasn’t looked like that for a long time “technical error”. This is a classic story of privatized surveillance, where private firms Intellexa And KRIKEL performed the functions of the state, and the state pretended that it did not control anything. All this happened against the backdrop of political gain, foreign policy concessions and the rapid destruction of digital traces.

PredatorGate: how Mitsotakis traded the surveillance scandal for political “indulgence” from the EU and the US

When surveillance becomes outsourced to the state

Two companies with murky structures, fake “pounds” and fictitious directors received direct contracts from ΕΛ.ΑΣ And ΕΥΠ. Formally, it looked like purchasing software. In fact, it is the transfer of national security to a private group involved in offshore companies and associated with Israeli technical structures.

This was called “data analysis”. In reality – digital surveillance for people whom the government considered inconvenient.

Predator was used against the opposition, journalists and their own ministers

The list of targets is confirmed by PEGA reports and Greek media investigations. Listened to:

  • Nikos Androulakisleader of PASOK;
  • investigative journalists;
  • businessmen;
  • government members;
  • policy critics Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Predator became not a tool against terrorism, but a tool against political competition. It was a zero-click digital baton that was quieter than telephone wiretaps in the 90s.

The prime minister’s nephew and the destruction of flash drives

Cartoon by Ilias Makris. Credit Kathimerini

The key person in this chain was Grigoris Dimitriadishead of the prime minister’s office and the person who controlled EΥP after the prime minister subordinated the service personally to himself. When the tracks began to point to Intellexa and KRIKEL, Dimitriadis“suddenly” leaves.

Further – more: ΕΥΠ employees receive a command destroy flash drives with keys and data. In any normal European country this is called obstruction of justice. In Greece, this was dubbed “necessity of duty.”

Why was the scandal hushed up?

Because Greece had something to pay.

  • Brussels demanded concessions on recovery funds, energy and migration.
  • Washington – on defense contracts, bases and geopolitical discipline.

In exchange for Athens’ loyalty, the Predator issue faded quietly in the corridors EU and NATO. The commissions were abandoned, the prosecutor’s office said “there is no evidence,” and the political partners became silent as if they had drawn water.

“Scapegoats” – fake perpetrators

Instead of real owners and real managers, the following appeared:

  • agronomist from the village,
  • a Pole with a dubious biography,
  • A 33-year-old gypsy with no income,
  • fake “Italian” directors.

While companies were run by shadowy figures, the real decisions were made by other people – those whose names are well known, but whose signatures do not appear on the documents.

The darkest: selling data abroad

According to leaks, the Intellexa–KRIKEL group was caught selling data and tools to third countries. The information is classified, but two options are being discussed: Russia or China. If even one is confirmed, PredatorGate becomes an international affair rather than a Greek domestic scandal.

Bottom line

PredatorGate – this is not an episode. This is a symptom. Privatized surveillance, fake directors, destroyed data, silence in the EU and US in exchange for Athens’ political obedience. The scandal was hushed up, but digital traces, documents and logs will live much longer than current political figures.



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