Press Freedom Under Siege: Arrest and Bail of Zimbabwean Editor Faith Zaba
July 2, 2025
Shattered Signals: Iran’s Media Faces Blackout and Repression After Israel Conflict
July 2, 2025
July 02, 2025 – Spain –
Spanish police have arrested two young men, aged 18 and 19, in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, for orchestrating a large-scale cyberattack that leaked personal data belonging to senior politicians, journalists, and public officials. The suspects, known online as “Akkaspace” and “Pakito,” are accused of committing crimes classified under Spain’s cyberterrorism laws, reflecting the severity and potential impact of their actions.
The breach, discovered in early June 2025, exposed sensitive information including national ID numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and email accounts of prominent figures such as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Congress President Francina Armengol, Catalonia’s President Salvador Illa, and journalists tied to ongoing political scandals like the Koldo case. The leaked data was shared across far-right Telegram channels and distributed via a customized bot capable of delivering targeted information to users in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.
Authorities described the motive as an attempt to destabilize the government and intimidate public officials, especially given the political nature of the chosen targets. This led investigators to categorize the attack not merely as hacking, but as an act of cyberterrorism.
During coordinated raids, police seized mobile phones, computers, and other digital devices. Despite the gravity of the charges, a Spanish judge released the suspects under strict conditions: they must remain in Spain, report regularly to authorities, surrender their passports, and avoid contact with one another. Prosecutors did not request pre-trial detention, but investigations remain ongoing under judicial secrecy.
This high-profile breach comes amid rising concerns about cyberattacks targeting political institutions and the press. Spain has recently stepped up efforts to counter cybercrime following similar incidents, including attacks linked to international hacker groups.
The arrests serve as a stark reminder of the growing threat digital sabotage poses to democratic infrastructure. Authorities are now working to uncover whether the two young men acted alone or as part of a broader network. Meanwhile, concerns persist about the lasting impact of leaked data and the vulnerabilities exposed in protecting public figures from politically motivated cybercrime.
Reference –
https://ground.news/article/two-men-arrested-in-las-palmas-for-leaking-personal-data-from-ministers
