The US has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities involved in the Intellexa Consortium for selling illegal Predator spyware in Greece, found in phones of politicians, journalists, and businesspeople. This action is in response to the wiretapping scandal that unfolded in 2022.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned these key figures for their role in developing and distributing spyware that poses a significant threat to national security. Acting Under Secretary Bradley T. Smith emphasizes that the US will not tolerate technologies that jeopardize security and privacy.
The sanctioned individuals and entity include Felix Bitzios, Andrea Nicola Constantino Hermes Gambazzi, Merom Harpaz, Panagiota Karaoli, Artemis Artemiou, and Aliada Group Inc. The sanctions involve blocking property and transactions, with potential enforcement actions for engaging with the sanctioned parties.
This decisive action highlights the US government’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for the proliferation of exploitative technologies while encouraging responsible technological development.