The proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware pose growing security risks to the United States. Foreign actors have misused such spyware to enable human rights abuses and to target dissidents globally for repression and reprisal. The United States is today designating two individuals and five entities associated with the Intellexa Consortium for their role in developing, operating, and distributing commercial spyware technology misused to target Americans, including U.S. Government officials, journalists, and policy experts.
Today's designations aim to discourage the misuse of surveillance tools and reflect U.S. Government efforts to establish clear guardrails for the responsible development and use of these technologies aligned with the protection of human rights and democratic values around the world.
In advance of the third Summit for Democracy, hosted by the Republic of Korea in Seoul, these designations build upon the steps taken since last year's Summit for Democracy in March 2023, including the issuance of an Executive Order to Prohibit U.S. Government Use of Commercial Spyware that Poses Risks to National Security; the U.S.-led Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware; the Guiding Principles on Government Use of Surveillance Technologies; the addition of commercial spyware entities to the Department of Commerce Entity List; and the Department of State's announcement of a new visa restriction policy. The Department of the Treasury designations were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13694
