U.S. Sanctions Intellexa Consortium Over Spyware Misuse

The Treasury Department targets individuals and entities linked to commercial spyware, marking a significant step in curbing surveillance tool abuse.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against two individuals and five entities associated with the Intellexa Consortium, a commercial spyware group.
Sanctions target Intellexa's founder Tal Jonathan Dilian and Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou, along with companies involved in developing and distributing the Predator spyware.
The Predator spyware has been used to target U.S. government officials, journalists, and policy experts, posing a security risk.
These sanctions mark the first time the U.S. has targeted a commercial spyware entity, reflecting efforts to curb the misuse of surveillance tools.
The Biden administration emphasizes the importance of establishing clear guidelines for the responsible development and use of spyware technologies, ensuring the protection of human rights.