Bulgaria Approves Export of Advanced Surveillance Tech to Multiple Nations

Bulgaria has authorized the export of sophisticated mobile surveillance technology to intelligence agencies and government bodies in multiple nations, including Azerbaijan, Serbia, Malaysia, and Mexico, in recent years. At the heart of these revelations is Sofia-based Circles BG, a company connected to the Israeli NSO Group, internationally recognized for its Pegasus spyware.

According to a Politico report, the disclosures stem from leaked export license documents. These findings bring back into focus the discussion surrounding the oversight of Europe's cyber-surveillance industry. They also rekindle interest in Greece's wiretapping scandal, as Tal Dilian is one of Circles' co-founders.

Dilian, a former Israeli military intelligence unit commander and founder of Intellexa, which developed Predator spyware, stated on March 13 that his company "only provides technology to governments and law enforcement agencies." This contradicts the government's narrative that the wiretapping scandal involved "private individuals."

Dilian has been linked to a network of companies operating in Greece, Cyprus, Ireland, and other countries. The case continues to generate political reactions in Athens, parliamentary inquiries, and European interventions. The appeal hearing for Dilian, Hamou, Bitzios, and Lavranos is scheduled for December.

In 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on Dilian for his role in developing and distributing surveillance technologies that U.S. authorities claim were used against journalists, academics, analysts, and government officials. Long before Predator made headlines in Greece, Circles had developed a different, yet equally potent, surveillance model. Instead of infecting devices with malware, it exploited vulnerabilities in international telecommunications networks to track mobile phone locations and collect communication data.

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We only provide technology to governments and law enforcement agencies.