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...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
⚠️ "An attorney from Quinn Emanuel joined NSO Group's legal team on that case on Jan. 22, according to legal filings, and different attorneys from that firm filed the case against WhatsApp on Jan. 23."
✍️ @joemenn.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
✍️ @joemenn.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Lawsuit claims WhatsApp has a gaping security hole. Experts doubt it.
WhatsApp called a California lawsuit that alleged staff could read user messages “frivolous” and said it would seek sanctions against the firm’s attorneys.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:35 AM
⚠️ "An attorney from Quinn Emanuel joined NSO Group's legal team on that case on Jan. 22, according to legal filings, and different attorneys from that firm filed the case against WhatsApp on Jan. 23."
✍️ @joemenn.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
✍️ @joemenn.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Europe is investing heavily in security but not enough in #cyber, bloc’s cyber agency chief says.
✍️ @sgclark92.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/we-a...
✍️ @sgclark92.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/we-a...
‘We’re losing massively’: EU cyber chief warns Europe’s defenses lag
Europe is investing heavily in security but not enough in cyber, bloc’s cyber agency chief says.
www.politico.eu
January 29, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Europe is investing heavily in security but not enough in #cyber, bloc’s cyber agency chief says.
✍️ @sgclark92.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/we-a...
✍️ @sgclark92.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/we-a...
The newly signed 🇪🇺EU-🇮🇳India FTA includes a #cyber component. In closed-door cyber dialogue sessions, EU diplomats raised concerns about India’s proliferating offensive cyber ecosystem. Indian officials dismissed the issue, denying such an ecosystem exists.
www.intelligenceonline.com/asia-pacific...
www.intelligenceonline.com/asia-pacific...
January 29, 2026 at 6:20 AM
The newly signed 🇪🇺EU-🇮🇳India FTA includes a #cyber component. In closed-door cyber dialogue sessions, EU diplomats raised concerns about India’s proliferating offensive cyber ecosystem. Indian officials dismissed the issue, denying such an ecosystem exists.
www.intelligenceonline.com/asia-pacific...
www.intelligenceonline.com/asia-pacific...
Whoever used a card in a 🇬🇷supermarket employee’s name had not only purchased the infected SMS messages, but also the spoof sites used to deploy Predator spyware—They also appear to have studied Intellexa’s manual on covering their tracks.✍️ @etriantafillou.bsky.social
insidestory.gr/article/apok...
insidestory.gr/article/apok...
Αποκαλυπτικές οι κινήσεις της προπληρωμένης κάρτας του Predator
Όποιος είχε στα χέρια του την κάρτα που εκδόθηκε στο όνομα ενός υπαλλήλου σούπερ μάρκετ, εκτός από μολυσμένα sms είχε αγοράσει και ψευδεπίγραφες ιστοσελίδες που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την παγίδευση στόχ...
insidestory.gr
January 28, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Whoever used a card in a 🇬🇷supermarket employee’s name had not only purchased the infected SMS messages, but also the spoof sites used to deploy Predator spyware—They also appear to have studied Intellexa’s manual on covering their tracks.✍️ @etriantafillou.bsky.social
insidestory.gr/article/apok...
insidestory.gr/article/apok...
NEW: guide by @business-humanrights.org, @smex.org & @awo.agency on the severe, under-recognised risks for 📈💰investors in #surveillance technologies – including #spyware, digital forensics tools, cell site simulators & deep packet inspection systems.
media.business-humanrights.org/media/docume...
media.business-humanrights.org/media/docume...
January 28, 2026 at 6:18 AM
NEW: guide by @business-humanrights.org, @smex.org & @awo.agency on the severe, under-recognised risks for 📈💰investors in #surveillance technologies – including #spyware, digital forensics tools, cell site simulators & deep packet inspection systems.
media.business-humanrights.org/media/docume...
media.business-humanrights.org/media/docume...
WhatsApp unveiled a lockdown-style feature on Tuesday similar to those offered by other tech providers aimed at blocking sophisticated cyberattacks, with #spyware in mind.
✍️ @timstarks.bsky.social
cyberscoop.com/whatsapp-str...
✍️ @timstarks.bsky.social
cyberscoop.com/whatsapp-str...
WhatsApp releases account feature that looks to combat spyware
WhatsApp is rolling out “Strict Account Settings,” a lockdown-style security mode that limits interactions from non-contacts to help protect high-risk users from sophisticated spyware attacks.
cyberscoop.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:13 PM
WhatsApp unveiled a lockdown-style feature on Tuesday similar to those offered by other tech providers aimed at blocking sophisticated cyberattacks, with #spyware in mind.
✍️ @timstarks.bsky.social
cyberscoop.com/whatsapp-str...
✍️ @timstarks.bsky.social
cyberscoop.com/whatsapp-str...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Hackers have stolen the personal and contact information belonging to over 29.8 million SoundCloud user accounts after breaching the audio streaming platform's systems.
Have I Been Pwned: SoundCloud data breach impacts 29.8 million accounts
Hackers have stolen the personal and contact information belonging to over 29.8 million SoundCloud user accounts after breaching the audio streaming platform's systems.
www.bleepingcomputer.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Hackers have stolen the personal and contact information belonging to over 29.8 million SoundCloud user accounts after breaching the audio streaming platform's systems.
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Human trafficking to scam compounds in SE Asia is a catastrophe for forced laborers and their scam victims worldwide. One individual, Red Bull, gave @agreenberg.bsky.social incredible insight into the situation over months from inside. Then he attempted an escape www.wired.com/story/he-lea...
He Leaked the Secrets of a Southeast Asian Scam Compound. Then He Had to Get Out Alive
A source trapped inside an industrial-scale scamming operation contacted me, determined to expose his captors’ crimes—and then escape. This is his story.
www.wired.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Human trafficking to scam compounds in SE Asia is a catastrophe for forced laborers and their scam victims worldwide. One individual, Red Bull, gave @agreenberg.bsky.social incredible insight into the situation over months from inside. Then he attempted an escape www.wired.com/story/he-lea...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
“Nationwide patterns of abuse by ICE and Border Patrol reveal a dangerous and expanding security force operating with impunity,” Sawyer said.
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
US: Second Unjustified Killing by Federal Agents in Minneapolis
The fatal shooting of another Minneapolis resident by federal agents follows weeks of violent and abusive immigration enforcement actions throughout the city.
www.hrw.org
January 27, 2026 at 1:02 PM
“Nationwide patterns of abuse by ICE and Border Patrol reveal a dangerous and expanding security force operating with impunity,” Sawyer said.
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
Thank you so much, Lorenzo!🙏
Vas has tirelessly and constantly followed virtually every story related to government spyware that is developing in any corners of the world. I don't know how he can keep up with everything that's happening in that world, but I am glad he does.
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...
January 27, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Thank you so much, Lorenzo!🙏
“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.