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
Hungary grants asylum to key former government official implicated in sprawling Polish spyware scandal
therecord.media/hungary-asyl...
therecord.media/hungary-asyl...
Hungary grants asylum to former Polish minister implicated in spyware probe
Hungary has granted political asylum to Poland's former justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, who is being prosecuted for his role in a spyware scandal that has rocked the country.
therecord.media
January 12, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Hungary grants asylum to key former government official implicated in sprawling Polish spyware scandal
therecord.media/hungary-asyl...
therecord.media/hungary-asyl...
🇭🇺Hungary has granted political asylum to 🇵🇱Poland's former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro who is facing charges of embezzlement. He is accused of authorising the purchase of #spyware that was allegedly used to hack political opponents' phones.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hungary grants asylum to Polish ex-justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro
Granting asylum to a citizen of a fellow EU member goes against the spirit of EU standards.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 6:26 PM
🇭🇺Hungary has granted political asylum to 🇵🇱Poland's former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro who is facing charges of embezzlement. He is accused of authorising the purchase of #spyware that was allegedly used to hack political opponents' phones.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Among the 66 international organizations the administration withdrew from are a handful that work on cybersecurity topics. via @timstarks.bsky.social cyberscoop.com/trump-pulls-...
Trump pulls US out of international cyber orgs
The Trump administration is withdrawing the United States from a handful of international organizations that work to strengthen cybersecurity.
cyberscoop.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Among the 66 international organizations the administration withdrew from are a handful that work on cybersecurity topics. via @timstarks.bsky.social cyberscoop.com/trump-pulls-...
NSO Group, one of the most well-known and controversial makers of government #spyware, released a new transparency report on Wednesday, as the company enters what it described as “a new phase of accountability,” writes @lorenzofb.bsky.social.
techcrunch.com/2026/01/08/c...
techcrunch.com/2026/01/08/c...
Critics pan spyware maker NSO's transparency claims amid its push to enter US market | TechCrunch
The infamous spyware maker released a new transparency report claiming to be a responsible spyware maker, without providing insight into how the company dealt with problematic customers in the past.
techcrunch.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:26 PM
NSO Group, one of the most well-known and controversial makers of government #spyware, released a new transparency report on Wednesday, as the company enters what it described as “a new phase of accountability,” writes @lorenzofb.bsky.social.
techcrunch.com/2026/01/08/c...
techcrunch.com/2026/01/08/c...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Want to know how to track Homeland security spending by looking through government databases? EFF's Dave Maass has put together a handy how-to: www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
The Homeland Security Spending Trail: How to Follow the Money Through U.S. Government Databases
The U.S. government publishes volumes of detailed data on the money it spends, but searching through it and finding information can be challenging. This guide covers the key databases that store infor...
www.eff.org
January 6, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Want to know how to track Homeland security spending by looking through government databases? EFF's Dave Maass has put together a handy how-to: www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
"Among the government bodies listed on documents seen by Intelligence Online are 🇵🇰Pakistan and its defence ministry, 🇮🇩Indonesia's State Intelligence Agency, the 🇲🇲Myanmar Police Force, 🇲🇽Mexico's army and navy and 🇻🇪Venezuela's defence ministry."
www.intelligenceonline.com/americas/202...
www.intelligenceonline.com/americas/202...
January 6, 2026 at 8:20 PM
"Among the government bodies listed on documents seen by Intelligence Online are 🇵🇰Pakistan and its defence ministry, 🇮🇩Indonesia's State Intelligence Agency, the 🇲🇲Myanmar Police Force, 🇲🇽Mexico's army and navy and 🇻🇪Venezuela's defence ministry."
www.intelligenceonline.com/americas/202...
www.intelligenceonline.com/americas/202...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
NEW, by me: Bryan Fleming, the Michigan-based founder of spyware maker pcTattletale, pleaded guilty in federal court to hacking & advertising surveillance software Tuesday.
ICE/HSI brought the case. It's the DOJ's first federal successful prosecution of a stalkerware operator in over a decade.
ICE/HSI brought the case. It's the DOJ's first federal successful prosecution of a stalkerware operator in over a decade.
Founder of spyware maker pcTattletale pleads guilty to hacking and advertising surveillance software | TechCrunch
Bryan Fleming, the founder of hacked stalkerware company pcTattletale, pleaded guilty to federal charges linked to the running of his now-defunct Michigan-based spyware company.
techcrunch.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:27 PM
NEW, by me: Bryan Fleming, the Michigan-based founder of spyware maker pcTattletale, pleaded guilty in federal court to hacking & advertising surveillance software Tuesday.
ICE/HSI brought the case. It's the DOJ's first federal successful prosecution of a stalkerware operator in over a decade.
ICE/HSI brought the case. It's the DOJ's first federal successful prosecution of a stalkerware operator in over a decade.
"All the contact was conducted discreetly," a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told @haaretzcom.bsky.social. "The 🇬🇷Greeks were wary of being identified with Israel, because shortly beforehand the Greek Watergate affair had exploded."
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Israeli President Herzog bagged his confidant a job on right-wing Greek election campaign
Haaretz Has Learned That the Company of Moti Sander Worked on Online Influence Operations for the Greek Ruling Party New Democracy's 2023 Election Campaign Through Herzog's Connections. Sander Has Sin...
www.haaretz.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:48 PM
"All the contact was conducted discreetly," a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told @haaretzcom.bsky.social. "The 🇬🇷Greeks were wary of being identified with Israel, because shortly beforehand the Greek Watergate affair had exploded."
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
The tide is slowly changing in the US 🇺🇸 around mercenary spyware restrictions
Which would be bad news for human rights, but (and here's the irony) bad news for US 🇺🇸 national security too.
Huge counterintelligence risks....
(which is of little concern to kleptocrats)
Which would be bad news for human rights, but (and here's the irony) bad news for US 🇺🇸 national security too.
Huge counterintelligence risks....
(which is of little concern to kleptocrats)
The chief executive of the Israeli #spyware maker NSO Group, Yaron Shohat, said on Thursday he was stepping down, according to a letter sent to employees and obtained by Haaretz.
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Spyware firm NSO's chief steps down as U.S. lifts sanctions on Intellexa executives
After First-term Trump Ambassador Friedman Was Appointed Chair of Pegasus-maker NSO as Part of a Takeover by a Hollywood Producer, the CEO Steps Down Amid a Possible Shift in U.S. Spyware Policy Under...
www.haaretz.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:31 PM
The tide is slowly changing in the US 🇺🇸 around mercenary spyware restrictions
Which would be bad news for human rights, but (and here's the irony) bad news for US 🇺🇸 national security too.
Huge counterintelligence risks....
(which is of little concern to kleptocrats)
Which would be bad news for human rights, but (and here's the irony) bad news for US 🇺🇸 national security too.
Huge counterintelligence risks....
(which is of little concern to kleptocrats)
“While there has been no formal declaration of a change in 🇺🇸U.S. policy toward the spyware industry, figures in the sector view the changes at NSO and the lifting of sanctions on Intellexa executives as early signs of a possible shift in the field.”
January 1, 2026 at 6:15 PM
“While there has been no formal declaration of a change in 🇺🇸U.S. policy toward the spyware industry, figures in the sector view the changes at NSO and the lifting of sanctions on Intellexa executives as early signs of a possible shift in the field.”
The chief executive of the Israeli #spyware maker NSO Group, Yaron Shohat, said on Thursday he was stepping down, according to a letter sent to employees and obtained by Haaretz.
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Spyware firm NSO's chief steps down as U.S. lifts sanctions on Intellexa executives
After First-term Trump Ambassador Friedman Was Appointed Chair of Pegasus-maker NSO as Part of a Takeover by a Hollywood Producer, the CEO Steps Down Amid a Possible Shift in U.S. Spyware Policy Under...
www.haaretz.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:54 PM
The chief executive of the Israeli #spyware maker NSO Group, Yaron Shohat, said on Thursday he was stepping down, according to a letter sent to employees and obtained by Haaretz.
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Treasury said in an email that the removal "was done as part of the normal administrative process in response to a petition request for reconsideration." It added that each of the individuals had "demonstrated measures to separate themselves from the Intellexa Consortium."
😱
😱
New: Trump administration removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
Trump administration removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list
President Donald Trump's administration has lifted sanctions on three executives tied to the spy software consortium Intellexa, according to a notice published to the U.S. Treasury's website.
www.reuters.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Treasury said in an email that the removal "was done as part of the normal administrative process in response to a petition request for reconsideration." It added that each of the individuals had "demonstrated measures to separate themselves from the Intellexa Consortium."
😱
😱
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
New: Trump administration removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
Trump administration removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list
President Donald Trump's administration has lifted sanctions on three executives tied to the spy software consortium Intellexa, according to a notice published to the U.S. Treasury's website.
www.reuters.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:38 PM
New: Trump administration removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Today, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it took three people closely affiliated with Intellexa, the company behind Predator spyware, off of a sanctions list.
The public deserves to know what evidence exists to prove that these individuals have ceased their involvement with Intellexa. 1/
The public deserves to know what evidence exists to prove that these individuals have ceased their involvement with Intellexa. 1/
December 30, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Today, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it took three people closely affiliated with Intellexa, the company behind Predator spyware, off of a sanctions list.
The public deserves to know what evidence exists to prove that these individuals have ceased their involvement with Intellexa. 1/
The public deserves to know what evidence exists to prove that these individuals have ceased their involvement with Intellexa. 1/
Correction: Hamou was sanctioned in March 2024.
December 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Correction: Hamou was sanctioned in March 2024.
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Gambazzi, Hamou and Harpaz, who previously were sanctioned in relation to Intellexa. Got removed from sanctions today.
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
Non Proliferation and Iran-related Designations; Cyber-related and Russia-related Designations Removals | Office of Foreign Assets Control
ofac.treasury.gov
December 30, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Gambazzi, Hamou and Harpaz, who previously were sanctioned in relation to Intellexa. Got removed from sanctions today.
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
⚠️The 🇺🇸U.S. Department of the Treasury has lifted sanctions against three of the five executives with ties to the #Intellexa Consortium - Sara Hamou, Andrea Gambazzi, and Merom Harpaz - that were originally imposed in September 2024.
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
ofac.treasury.gov
December 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
⚠️The 🇺🇸U.S. Department of the Treasury has lifted sanctions against three of the five executives with ties to the #Intellexa Consortium - Sara Hamou, Andrea Gambazzi, and Merom Harpaz - that were originally imposed in September 2024.
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Looks like the NSO Group sale is going forward. It will be interesting to see what happens. Will NSO shed all its international and controversial customers to go for the American market?
Top U.S. agencies don’t like providers that also sell outside of the country. At most they tolerate Five Eyes.
Top U.S. agencies don’t like providers that also sell outside of the country. At most they tolerate Five Eyes.
Another similarly named 🇺🇸Delaware company (Hippocrene, LLC) can be linked to Hollywood producer Robert Simonds, who, according to reports, leads a group of US investors that has acquired controlling ownership of #Pegasus maker NSO Group.
December 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Looks like the NSO Group sale is going forward. It will be interesting to see what happens. Will NSO shed all its international and controversial customers to go for the American market?
Top U.S. agencies don’t like providers that also sell outside of the country. At most they tolerate Five Eyes.
Top U.S. agencies don’t like providers that also sell outside of the country. At most they tolerate Five Eyes.
🇫🇷France reportedly suspects 🇲🇦Morocco of being behind the Pegasus spyware spying on 🇪🇸Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
www.antena3.com/noticias/esp...
www.antena3.com/noticias/esp...
Francia sospecha que Marruecos está detrás del espionaje a Pedro Sánchez con Pegasus
El juez Calama ya tiene la respuesta de la Justicia del país galo a su petición de información sobre el software espía.
www.antena3.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:30 AM
🇫🇷France reportedly suspects 🇲🇦Morocco of being behind the Pegasus spyware spying on 🇪🇸Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
www.antena3.com/noticias/esp...
www.antena3.com/noticias/esp...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Received a notification from Apple, Google or WhatsApp that you've been targeted or hacked with government spyware?
Take it seriously!
Here's a very useful guide from @lorenzofb.bsky.social @techcrunch.com about what steps you should take next 👇
Take it seriously!
Here's a very useful guide from @lorenzofb.bsky.social @techcrunch.com about what steps you should take next 👇
NEW: Apple, Google, and WhatsApp now regularly notify their users if they suspect they have been targeted or hacked with government spyware, such as that made by NSO Group or Paragon.
We spoke to experts and wrote a guide on what to do, and where to go, if you receive one of those notifications.
We spoke to experts and wrote a guide on what to do, and where to go, if you receive one of those notifications.
You've been targeted by government spyware. Now what? | TechCrunch
Tech companies are increasingly warning their customers that they have been targeted by governments with advanced government spyware, such as NSO's Pegasus or Paragon's Graphite. What happens after re...
techcrunch.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Received a notification from Apple, Google or WhatsApp that you've been targeted or hacked with government spyware?
Take it seriously!
Here's a very useful guide from @lorenzofb.bsky.social @techcrunch.com about what steps you should take next 👇
Take it seriously!
Here's a very useful guide from @lorenzofb.bsky.social @techcrunch.com about what steps you should take next 👇
➡️ Fun fact: In ancient Greek mythology, ‘Hippocrene’ was the name of a fountain on Mount Helicon sacred to the Muses, said in legend to have sprung from a stroke of #Pegasus’ hoof – the mythical beast after which NSO Group’s powerful spyware is named.
December 28, 2025 at 7:08 PM
➡️ Fun fact: In ancient Greek mythology, ‘Hippocrene’ was the name of a fountain on Mount Helicon sacred to the Muses, said in legend to have sprung from a stroke of #Pegasus’ hoof – the mythical beast after which NSO Group’s powerful spyware is named.
Another similarly named 🇺🇸Delaware company (Hippocrene, LLC) can be linked to Hollywood producer Robert Simonds, who, according to reports, leads a group of US investors that has acquired controlling ownership of #Pegasus maker NSO Group.
December 28, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Another similarly named 🇺🇸Delaware company (Hippocrene, LLC) can be linked to Hollywood producer Robert Simonds, who, according to reports, leads a group of US investors that has acquired controlling ownership of #Pegasus maker NSO Group.
💡Why this matters: in an apparent bid to persuade the US administration to lift sanctions, the spyware firm has recently named a former Trump ambassador to Israel as chair and is shifting to US ownership.
"The move comes after months of failed lobbying."
Background: www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
"The move comes after months of failed lobbying."
Background: www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Ex-Trump ambassador to Israel named NSO chairman, as spyware firm shifts to U.S. ownership
Move Comes After Months of Failed Lobbying to Lift U.S. Sanctions NSO's Founders No Longer Hold Any Stake in the Company Lawyer Linked to Israeli Minister, Shin Bet Chief Appointed Director
www.haaretz.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:19 PM
💡Why this matters: in an apparent bid to persuade the US administration to lift sanctions, the spyware firm has recently named a former Trump ambassador to Israel as chair and is shifting to US ownership.
"The move comes after months of failed lobbying."
Background: www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
"The move comes after months of failed lobbying."
Background: www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
⚠️ All shares of NorthPole Newco, one of the key entities associated with #Pegasus maker NSO Group, have been transferred to the 🇺🇸Delaware–registered Hippocrene Ventures LLC, according to Luxembourg filings dated 18 December.
December 28, 2025 at 12:19 PM
⚠️ All shares of NorthPole Newco, one of the key entities associated with #Pegasus maker NSO Group, have been transferred to the 🇺🇸Delaware–registered Hippocrene Ventures LLC, according to Luxembourg filings dated 18 December.