Not just spyware scandals: EU is funding the industry that spies on Europeans
2 days ago
- #EU Spyware Scandals
- #Predatorgate
- #Public Funding Accountability
- Greece sentenced four individuals to prison in February 2026 over the 2022 Predatorgate spyware scandal, marking a rare criminal accountability case for spyware manufacturer executives.
- EU institutions, including the European Commission and member states, have been passive in addressing spyware proliferation, despite its human rights violations.
- Investigations reveal EU funds, such as subsidies from the European Defence Fund and Horizon programmes, are actively funding spyware companies like Intellexa and Paragon Solutions.
- The European Investment Fund, part of the European Investment Bank, funded Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions, implicated in surveillance scandals in Italy.
- EU bodies lack transparency and accountability in managing public investments, making it difficult to track how taxpayer money supports harmful spyware firms.
- The article calls for a ban on EU funding for spyware, stricter investment policies, and a full EU-wide ban on spyware technology to protect democracy and fundamental rights.