A Greek court has convicted four business executives linked to the spyware developer Intellexa for their involvement in the illegal wiretapping of government ministers, military officials and journalists.
Spyware Executives Found Guilty
Those convicted include Tal Dilian, Intellexa’s founder and a former commander of an elite Israeli intelligence unit. Sara Hamou, his ex-wife and business partner; Felix Bitzios, an Intellexa executive; and Yiannis Lavranos, owner of the Greek security firm that purchased Intellexa’s Predator spyware.
Each defendant received an eight-year prison sentence, which is currently suspended pending appeals. The court found them guilty of “breaching the confidentiality of telephone communications” and illegally accessing information systems.
International Implications
The case follows a 2023 investigation by ICIJ, as part of the Cyprus Confidential investigation, which reported on Intellexa’s sales of spyware to regimes described as some of the world’s most brutal. Sara Hamou played a key role in establishing a base of operations for the company in Cyprus.
Dilian, Hamou, and Bitzios were sanctioned by the U.S. Government in March and September 2024, though sanctions against Hamou were later lifted in late 2025. Despite these sanctions, Intellexa continued operations, with its Predator spyware used to hack the phone of Angolan journalist Teixeira Cândido in May 2024.
Cândido, an advocate for media freedom, described the experience as frightening, stating, “I was scared, of course, given that I didn’t know what content they took from my phone, from my emails, and I didn’t know what they had listened to… It feels like you’re walking naked and being watched.”
Further Investigation Possible
The Greek court has agreed to share the trial record with judicial authorities to investigate potential additional offenses committed by the defendants and others involved. The prosecutor indicated that espionage charges may be considered.
Intellexa’s clientele includes entities accused of human rights abuses, such as Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, the Egyptian intelligence services, and the Vietnamese government.
John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, stated, “Here’s the first time that an executive at a mercenary spy company has been convicted and sentenced to prison… What this shows is when all the facts of spyware companies’ business models get in front of a fair judge, consequences will follow.”
Update, Feb 27, 2026: After the story was published, Tal Dilian responded to ICJ’s request for comment, writing in an email that he planned to appeal the ruling. He wrote that the verdict was “fundamentally irreconcilable with the evidentiary record” and that he rejected “any attempt to utilize our professional and commercial activities as a scapegoat for political leverage or external agendas.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Predator spyware used for?
Predator spyware allows covert access to a mobile device’s microphone, camera, contacts, and files.
Who was targeted by the spyware in Greece?
The spyware was used to target 87 prominent individuals in Greece, including politicians, journalists, and military officials.
Were any sanctions imposed on Intellexa executives?
Tal Dilian, Sara Hamou, and Felix Bitzios were sanctioned by the U.S. Government in 2024, but sanctions were lifted on Hamou in late 2025.
As governments and private entities increasingly utilize sophisticated surveillance technologies, what level of oversight and regulation is necessary to protect individual privacy and freedom?
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