The Biden administration has welcomed six new countries to a US-led pact aimed at combating phone-hacking spyware. US officials have reported ongoing cases of American government personnel being targeted by this technology, which is considered a significant national security and counterintelligence threat.
Commercial spyware is malicious software used to infiltrate mobile phones, essentially turning them into listening devices and accessing their contacts. The market for such spyware has seen a surge in recent years, with companies from various countries offering these services to willing buyers, including governments.
To address this issue, the US has been urging its allies to refrain from engaging with spyware companies that could potentially target US diplomats or conduct surveillance on dissidents and journalists within the US.
Poland and Ireland, two countries previously linked to spyware abuse, have joined the anti-spyware pact, along with Finland, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. This development underscores a growing global effort to curb the misuse of surveillance technology.
The announcement of these new signatories will take place at the Summit for Democracy in Seoul, where democratic governments worldwide convene annually. Last year, eleven countries, including the US and its 'Five Eyes' allies, signed the pledge to ensure that any commercial spyware use aligns with universal human rights and civil liberties.
The concern over spyware escalated when it was discovered that numerous US government personnel, including State Department employees in Africa, had their phones hacked with spyware. The risk posed by governments using spyware on US personnel includes intelligence gathering and surveillance of individuals meeting with US diplomats.
While a government-wide study on the threat of spyware to US interests is ongoing, the Biden administration has taken steps to restrict the use of spyware deemed a national security threat or implicated in human rights abuses. Despite these efforts, the lucrative spyware market continues to thrive, with companies often concealing their operations behind complex corporate structures.
The administration has sanctioned spyware vendors, restricted visas, and prohibited US companies from engaging with certain entities. However, the challenge remains in curtailing the growth of spyware due to its clandestine nature and the flow of capital supporting these activities.
