On Monday, President Joe Biden issued an executive order restricting the use of commercial spyware by the US government, noting the dangers the monitoring technology poses to national security and the possibility for exploitation by foreign parties.
According to a statement from the White House, “the growth of commercial spyware poses specific and escalating counterintelligence and security vulnerabilities to the United States.”
It said, “This executive order intends to assure that any use of commercial spyware by the US government is consistent with the key national security and foreign policy goals of the United States in protecting and promoting democratic processes and institutions, and respect for human rights.
On Monday, President Joe Biden issued an executive order restricting the use of commercial spyware by the US government, noting the dangers the monitoring technology poses to national security and the possibility for exploitation by foreign parties.
According to a statement from the White House, “the growth of commercial spyware poses specific and escalating counterintelligence and security vulnerabilities to the United States.”
The executive order, according to Alexandra Seymour, an associate fellow for the Center for a New American Security’s (CNAS) technology and national security program, showed that Washington recognized the growing threat posed by commercial spyware.
There is a sizable market for technology that enables users to covertly access private data on mobile phones or turn them into tracking and recording tools to spy on their owners.
In addition to autocratic governments, the trade in this technology has grown significantly in democratic nations and significant US allies, according to Seymour.
Congress has urged the administration to play a more active role in this matter.
Under the condition of anonymity, a senior congressional aide told MEE, “This was purposeful timing before the summit.” The government is aware of the widespread, partisan concern over the risks to American individuals posed by the unfettered growth of commercial spyware.
A clause in the 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act mandates that ex-employees of intelligence agencies disclose their involvement with for-profit spyware firms.
We are seen a “substitution impact,” where companies like Intellexa emerge following issues with the NSO group.
the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Steven Feldstein.
Lawmakers also broadened the parameters under which the president can prohibit Americans from providing support to security agencies using surveillance technology against journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition politicians.
Those efforts were led by Democratic Congressman Jim Himes, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, who spearheaded a letter in September last year to the State and Commerce Departments asking them to take more action on foreign commercial spyware.
Hime’s office didn’t respond to MEE’s request for comment by the time of publication.
