New US visa policy for those involved in misuse of spyware

The US State Department has announced a new visa policy and restrictions for individuals involved in the misuse of commercial spyware.

• The US State Department has announced a new visa policy targeting individuals involved in the misuse of commercial spyware.
• Last year, President Biden signed an executive order prohibiting federal agencies from using commercial spyware that undermines US national security or foreign policy objectives.

It may be recalled that last year, the Biden administration had signed an executive order banning federal agencies from using commercial spyware that poses risks to US national security or foreign policy interests.

The United States remains concerned with the growing misuse of commercial spyware around the world to facilitate repression, restrict the free flow of information, and enable human rights abuses.  The misuse of commercial spyware threatens privacy and freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Such targeting has been linked to arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in the most egregious of cases.  Additionally, the misuse of these tools presents a security and counterintelligence threat to US personnel.  The United States stands on the side of human rights and fundamental freedoms and will continue to promote accountability for individuals involved in commercial spyware misuse, according to a statement released by the US Secretary of State.

The widespread use of commercial spyware has become a growing concern to the United States authorities. These technologies, created by companies such as NSO Group, Intellexa, and Cytrox, have been linked to human rights abuses around the world, according to a report from Cyberscoop.