Vas Panagiotopoulos
@vaspanagiotopoulos.com
Journalist interested in #surveillance & #pressfreedom | Contributor: @wired.com | @ftm.eu | Covers 🇬🇷 for @rsf.org | Researcher: @deakinuniversity.bsky.social
☏ Signal: vas.99
http://vaspanagiotopoulos.com
☏ Signal: vas.99
http://vaspanagiotopoulos.com
Pinned
ICE Signs $2 Million Contract With Spyware Maker Paragon Solutions
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s one-year contract with Paragon’s US subsidiary comes amid the Biden administration’s years-long crackdown on commercial spyware vendors.
www.wired.com
🇺🇸 Immigration and Customs Enforcement has signed a $2 million contract with 🇮🇱Israeli commercial #spyware vendor Paragon Solutions.
It is unknown whether the contract is for the deployment of Paragon’s flagship product Graphite.
My latest for WIRED. 👇
www.wired.com/story/ice-pa...
It is unknown whether the contract is for the deployment of Paragon’s flagship product Graphite.
My latest for WIRED. 👇
www.wired.com/story/ice-pa...
“A foreign govt rep said the goal of the Pall Mall Process isn’t to eliminate commercial intrusion products that can help in legit pursuits like law enforcement, but to establish rules of the road for their responsible govt use & purchase from responsible vendors.”
cyberscoop.com/industry-gov...
cyberscoop.com/industry-gov...
Industry, government, nonprofits weigh voluntary rules for commercial hacking tools
An international effort to create voluntary standards for the commercial cyber intrusion industry is wrestling with questions like who they should apply to, how to incentivize and measure compliance a...
cyberscoop.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:45 PM
“A foreign govt rep said the goal of the Pall Mall Process isn’t to eliminate commercial intrusion products that can help in legit pursuits like law enforcement, but to establish rules of the road for their responsible govt use & purchase from responsible vendors.”
cyberscoop.com/industry-gov...
cyberscoop.com/industry-gov...
A 🇬🇧judge has ordered 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia to pay more than £3m in damages to a London-based dissident whose phones were targeted with Pegasus #spyware.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Saudi Arabia ordered to pay £3m to London dissident over Pegasus spying
High court finds kingdom responsible for hacking phones of Ghanem al-Masarir and for physical attack on him
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:36 PM
A 🇬🇧judge has ordered 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia to pay more than £3m in damages to a London-based dissident whose phones were targeted with Pegasus #spyware.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Spanish judge closes probe into NSO in wake of Pegasus hack of several govt officials, incl the PM. Court says Israel ignored five requests for information and probe can't proceed as a result. NSO has historically been shielded from accountability by the Israeli govt
therecord.media/spanish-judg...
therecord.media/spanish-judg...
Spanish judge closes NSO Group spyware probe due to lack of cooperation from Israel
The case dates to May 2022, when the court launched a probe into the alleged spying on devices belonging to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Defence Minister Margarita Robles.
therecord.media
January 22, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Spanish judge closes probe into NSO in wake of Pegasus hack of several govt officials, incl the PM. Court says Israel ignored five requests for information and probe can't proceed as a result. NSO has historically been shielded from accountability by the Israeli govt
therecord.media/spanish-judg...
therecord.media/spanish-judg...
🇮🇹Based on an investigative report by RAI3's Report to be aired on Sunday, software capable of conducting covert surveillance has reportedly been installed on approximately 40,000 computers within the Italian justice administration.
en.ilsole24ore.com/art/pc-justi...
en.ilsole24ore.com/art/pc-justi...
Justice, Report's alarm: 'Access to magistrates' PCs without permission'. Nordio: "Surreal accusations"
In the investigation to be aired on Sunday on Rai3, the programme claims, with documents and audio-visual testimonies, that since 2019 an application installed on around 40,000 judicial computers allo...
en.ilsole24ore.com
January 22, 2026 at 6:09 PM
🇮🇹Based on an investigative report by RAI3's Report to be aired on Sunday, software capable of conducting covert surveillance has reportedly been installed on approximately 40,000 computers within the Italian justice administration.
en.ilsole24ore.com/art/pc-justi...
en.ilsole24ore.com/art/pc-justi...
🇪🇸 Spain's High Court on Thursday closed its investigation into the use of Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group's Pegasus software to spy on Spanish politicians, citing a lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities.
www.reuters.com/technology/s...
www.reuters.com/technology/s...
Spain closes Pegasus spyware probe again, saying Israel has not responded
Spain's High Court on Thursday closed its investigation into the use of Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group's "Pegasus" software to spy on Spanish politicians, citing a lack of cooperation from ...
www.reuters.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:51 PM
🇪🇸 Spain's High Court on Thursday closed its investigation into the use of Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group's Pegasus software to spy on Spanish politicians, citing a lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities.
www.reuters.com/technology/s...
www.reuters.com/technology/s...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
NEW: Ireland is working on a law to regulate the use of spyware by the police.
There's no details yet, but the Irish government promises to balance the need to fight serious crime with spyware, with the need to respect privacy and human rights.
techcrunch.com/2026/01/22/i...
There's no details yet, but the Irish government promises to balance the need to fight serious crime with spyware, with the need to respect privacy and human rights.
techcrunch.com/2026/01/22/i...
Ireland proposes new law allowing police to use spyware | TechCrunch
The Irish government announced that it wants to pass a law that would grant police more surveillance powers, such as using spyware to fight serious crime, while aiming to protect the privacy rights of...
techcrunch.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:51 PM
NEW: Ireland is working on a law to regulate the use of spyware by the police.
There's no details yet, but the Irish government promises to balance the need to fight serious crime with spyware, with the need to respect privacy and human rights.
techcrunch.com/2026/01/22/i...
There's no details yet, but the Irish government promises to balance the need to fight serious crime with spyware, with the need to respect privacy and human rights.
techcrunch.com/2026/01/22/i...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
When Jordanian authorities need to monitor (and suppress) pro Gaza activists, they arrest and interrogate them and they break into their phones using an Israeli technology called Cellebrite, a new report by @citizenlab.ca shows www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Jordanian authorities used Israeli spyware to surveil pro-Gaza activists, report finds
Researchers find with high confidence that security officials used Cellebrite to extract data from activists’ phones
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:19 PM
When Jordanian authorities need to monitor (and suppress) pro Gaza activists, they arrest and interrogate them and they break into their phones using an Israeli technology called Cellebrite, a new report by @citizenlab.ca shows www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
From Greece’s #PredatorGate trial:
➡️ In 2023, the publisher of Proto Thema — one of 🇬🇷’s largest pro-govt outlets — wrote that “it seems” the #wiretappings case was closed.
💡Yet in 2022, two sites in the group received €111,600 from #Krikel, a firm implicated in the scandal.
x.com/reporters_gr...
➡️ In 2023, the publisher of Proto Thema — one of 🇬🇷’s largest pro-govt outlets — wrote that “it seems” the #wiretappings case was closed.
💡Yet in 2022, two sites in the group received €111,600 from #Krikel, a firm implicated in the scandal.
x.com/reporters_gr...
January 22, 2026 at 6:31 AM
From Greece’s #PredatorGate trial:
➡️ In 2023, the publisher of Proto Thema — one of 🇬🇷’s largest pro-govt outlets — wrote that “it seems” the #wiretappings case was closed.
💡Yet in 2022, two sites in the group received €111,600 from #Krikel, a firm implicated in the scandal.
x.com/reporters_gr...
➡️ In 2023, the publisher of Proto Thema — one of 🇬🇷’s largest pro-govt outlets — wrote that “it seems” the #wiretappings case was closed.
💡Yet in 2022, two sites in the group received €111,600 from #Krikel, a firm implicated in the scandal.
x.com/reporters_gr...
New @europarl.europa.eu study examines 🇪🇺EU trade in dual-use items with conflict-affected regions, assessing whether EU rules & member state practices meet legal obligations. Finds a major lack of high-quality, granular data on what is actually being exported.
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
www.europarl.europa.eu
January 22, 2026 at 6:11 AM
New @europarl.europa.eu study examines 🇪🇺EU trade in dual-use items with conflict-affected regions, assessing whether EU rules & member state practices meet legal obligations. Finds a major lack of high-quality, granular data on what is actually being exported.
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
"The launch today is really to inform people & present all the MEPs who want to work on #spyware; also to bring in civil society, journalists who want to contribute to our work here in 🇪🇺Parliament.We have to determine an action plan, but it's not just the 4 of us," said @saskiabricmont.bsky.social.
January 21, 2026 at 4:40 PM
"The launch today is really to inform people & present all the MEPs who want to work on #spyware; also to bring in civil society, journalists who want to contribute to our work here in 🇪🇺Parliament.We have to determine an action plan, but it's not just the 4 of us," said @saskiabricmont.bsky.social.
New EP #spyware intergroup: @vostrihonova.bsky.social: "The EU Cybersecurity Act was proposed yesterday. It does not address vulnerabilities trade, but maybe we can look into formulating amendments. Since we are here from different political groups, maybe we can try to discuss the various options."
January 21, 2026 at 4:29 PM
New EP #spyware intergroup: @vostrihonova.bsky.social: "The EU Cybersecurity Act was proposed yesterday. It does not address vulnerabilities trade, but maybe we can look into formulating amendments. Since we are here from different political groups, maybe we can try to discuss the various options."
EDRi has launched a new resource bringing together the collective work of the association and its members on #spyware – a comprehensive and accessible repository for both newcomers and experts. 👇
@aajanovic.bsky.social
edri.org/our-work/spy...
@aajanovic.bsky.social
edri.org/our-work/spy...
Spyware Document Pool - European Digital Rights (EDRi)
This document pool brings together EDRi’s analysis, advocacy, research, and curated third-party resources for a full EU-wide ban on spyware.
edri.org
January 21, 2026 at 1:53 PM
EDRi has launched a new resource bringing together the collective work of the association and its members on #spyware – a comprehensive and accessible repository for both newcomers and experts. 👇
@aajanovic.bsky.social
edri.org/our-work/spy...
@aajanovic.bsky.social
edri.org/our-work/spy...
NEW: A parliamentary intergroup - a new PEGA - will be launched later today in 🇪🇺 @europarl.europa.eu to "stop the abuse of #spyware in Europe & make a direct appeal to victims: to come forward."
www.wired.it/article/spyw...
www.wired.it/article/spyw...
Spyware in Europa e caso Paragon, c'è una nuova commissione d'inchiesta (informale) contro l'abuso
L'iniziativa è dell'europarlamentare e giornalista Sandro Ruotolo. Sono decine gli utenti italiani allertati da Meta e Apple perché nel mirino dei software spia, tanti ancora sconosciuti. L'appello al...
www.wired.it
January 21, 2026 at 1:09 PM
NEW: A parliamentary intergroup - a new PEGA - will be launched later today in 🇪🇺 @europarl.europa.eu to "stop the abuse of #spyware in Europe & make a direct appeal to victims: to come forward."
www.wired.it/article/spyw...
www.wired.it/article/spyw...
Pleased to be part of the 2026 cohort of the @techpolicypress.bsky.social Fellowship Program.
Tech Policy Press is thrilled to announce its third fellowship cohort, selecting 10 fellows from around the world for the 2026 program: James Ball, Varsha Bansal, Liz Carolan, Tatiana Dias, Apar Gupta, Jake Laperruque, Lam Le, Petra Molnar, Vas Panagiotopoulos, and Chris Mills Rodrigo. Details here:
Tech Policy Press Announces 2026 Fellows
Tech Policy Press is pleased to announce its third fellowship cohort, selecting 10 fellows from around the world for the 2026 program.
www.techpolicy.press
January 21, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Pleased to be part of the 2026 cohort of the @techpolicypress.bsky.social Fellowship Program.
"The report didn't identify the #spyware used by the police. But @haaretzcom.bsky.social has reported that the 🇮🇱police had agreements with at least four different companies from 2015 or before – including NSO, Candiru, Verint and Paragon."
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Israel Police used unapproved spyware for years to collect data illegally, watchdog finds
The Report, Commissioned in the Wake of the Pegasus Scandal, Found That Police Bypassed Required Legal and Prosecutorial Approvals. State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman Revealed Unauthorized Surveillan...
www.haaretz.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:43 AM
"The report didn't identify the #spyware used by the police. But @haaretzcom.bsky.social has reported that the 🇮🇱police had agreements with at least four different companies from 2015 or before – including NSO, Candiru, Verint and Paragon."
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Last year, a member of the Spanish parliament sent a letter to the government asking what it thinks about the fact that there are several Israeli offensive cybersecurity folks in Barcelona working on spyware, and whether the government wants to do anything about it.
www.congreso.es/entradap/l15...
www.congreso.es/entradap/l15...
January 20, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Last year, a member of the Spanish parliament sent a letter to the government asking what it thinks about the fact that there are several Israeli offensive cybersecurity folks in Barcelona working on spyware, and whether the government wants to do anything about it.
www.congreso.es/entradap/l15...
www.congreso.es/entradap/l15...
🇮🇪Ireland: “Legislation will include new legal basis for the use of covert surveillance software as an alternative means of lawful interception.”
www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
Minister Jim O’Callaghan strengthens lawful interception powers
www.gov.ie
January 20, 2026 at 1:28 PM
🇮🇪Ireland: “Legislation will include new legal basis for the use of covert surveillance software as an alternative means of lawful interception.”
www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
🇮🇪 Ireland: "Minister Jim O'Callaghan strengthens lawful interception powers."
Has someone taken this press release down?
➡️ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
Has someone taken this press release down?
➡️ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
www.gov.ie
January 20, 2026 at 3:54 AM
🇮🇪 Ireland: "Minister Jim O'Callaghan strengthens lawful interception powers."
Has someone taken this press release down?
➡️ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
Has someone taken this press release down?
➡️ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Telegram’s battle with European regulators could force it to hire thousands of content moderators to tackle illegal content. Documents obtained by Follow the Money show how Telegram is trying to fend off tougher oversight from Brussels.
www.ftm.eu/articles/tel...
www.ftm.eu/articles/tel...
January 20, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Telegram’s battle with European regulators could force it to hire thousands of content moderators to tackle illegal content. Documents obtained by Follow the Money show how Telegram is trying to fend off tougher oversight from Brussels.
www.ftm.eu/articles/tel...
www.ftm.eu/articles/tel...
🇮🇪 Ireland: "Minister Jim O'Callaghan strengthens lawful interception powers."
Has someone taken this press release down?
➡️ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
Has someone taken this press release down?
➡️ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
www.gov.ie
January 20, 2026 at 3:54 AM
🇮🇪 Ireland: "Minister Jim O'Callaghan strengthens lawful interception powers."
Has someone taken this press release down?
➡️ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
Has someone taken this press release down?
➡️ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
A meeting convened at the seat of 🇨🇴Colombia’s president to address the controversy over the alleged use of Pegasus #spyware was cancelled on Monday, amid rising tensions between the defence and justice ministries over claims of illegal interceptions.
www.eluniversal.com.co/colombia/202...
www.eluniversal.com.co/colombia/202...
Cancelan reunión en la Casa de Nariño por denuncias sobre el uso de Pegasus
La reunión en la Casa de Nariño sobre el caso Pegasus fue cancelada en medio de choques entre los ministerios de Justicia y Defensa por denuncias de espionaje.
www.eluniversal.com.co
January 20, 2026 at 3:42 AM
A meeting convened at the seat of 🇨🇴Colombia’s president to address the controversy over the alleged use of Pegasus #spyware was cancelled on Monday, amid rising tensions between the defence and justice ministries over claims of illegal interceptions.
www.eluniversal.com.co/colombia/202...
www.eluniversal.com.co/colombia/202...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
"This hacking campaign also exposed victims' data" is a song that never gets old. Excellent work by Zack Whittaker, uncovering a new (maybe Iranian, maybe targeted) phishing campaign. techcrunch.com/2026/01/16/h...
How a hacking campaign targeted high-profile Gmail and WhatsApp users across the Middle East | TechCrunch
The phishing campaign targeted users on WhatsApp, including an Iranian-British activist, and stole the credentials of a Lebanese cabinet minister and at least one journalist.
techcrunch.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:53 PM
"This hacking campaign also exposed victims' data" is a song that never gets old. Excellent work by Zack Whittaker, uncovering a new (maybe Iranian, maybe targeted) phishing campaign. techcrunch.com/2026/01/16/h...
The 🇩🇪BND "would be granted the power to completely store up to 30 percent of all data traffic for six months – including all content. In a second step, the so-called inspection, the spies could sift through these vast amounts of data for relevant information."
www.heise.de/en/news/BND-...
www.heise.de/en/news/BND-...
BND should be allowed to hack IT giants and monitor internet nodes more closely
End of NSA dependence: A draft law provides for the BND to store internet content en masse and penetrate the systems of Google & Co.
www.heise.de
January 16, 2026 at 7:29 AM
The 🇩🇪BND "would be granted the power to completely store up to 30 percent of all data traffic for six months – including all content. In a second step, the so-called inspection, the spies could sift through these vast amounts of data for relevant information."
www.heise.de/en/news/BND-...
www.heise.de/en/news/BND-...
🇫🇷French penetration testing specialist Synacktiv has plans to step on the turf of #Cellebrite, a leader in phone data recovery solutions, according to Intelligence Online.
www.intelligenceonline.com/europe-russi...
www.intelligenceonline.com/europe-russi...
January 16, 2026 at 7:14 AM
🇫🇷French penetration testing specialist Synacktiv has plans to step on the turf of #Cellebrite, a leader in phone data recovery solutions, according to Intelligence Online.
www.intelligenceonline.com/europe-russi...
www.intelligenceonline.com/europe-russi...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
New: Beijing tells Chinese firms to stop using US and Israeli cybersecurity software
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Exclusive: Beijing tells Chinese firms to stop using US and Israeli cybersecurity software, sources say
Chinese authorities have told domestic companies to stop using cybersecurity software made by roughly a dozen firms from the U.S. and Israel due to national security concerns, two people briefed on th...
www.reuters.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:42 PM
New: Beijing tells Chinese firms to stop using US and Israeli cybersecurity software
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...