Biden: Federal gov forbidden from employing commercial spyware
3 Min Read
According to the WH statement, the spread of such software makes Americans vulnerable to increasing counterintelligence and security concerns
-
A view of the White House in Washington, U.S. January 18, 2021 (Reuters)
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden has issued an executive directive forbidding the federal government from employing commercial spyware that threatens national security.
“Today, President Biden signed an Executive Order that prohibits, for the first time, operational use by the United States Government of commercial spyware that poses risks to national security or has been misused by foreign actors to enable human rights abuses around the world,” read a statement released by the White House.
Commercial spyware, as defined by the White House, is any intrusive cyber-surveillance software that grants access to electronic devices, allows for the extraction of data, and changes their components without the users' consent.
According to the statement, the spread of such software makes Americans vulnerable to increasing counterintelligence and security concerns, which would threaten the safety and security of US Government employees and their families.
Senior Biden administration officials revealed that 50 US government employees abroad in at least 10 different nations across many continents have been assessed to be the target of commercial spyware.
According to the officials, the executive order is expected to be the main subject of the Summit for Democracy, which is set to take place this week in Washington.
They also added that the Biden administration will soon make other announcements in regard to technology and the growth of digital authoritarianism.
Read more: Biden intelligence advisor involved in Israeli NSO spyware deals
It was reported back in October that prior to being recently appointed by Joe Biden to an intelligence advisory board, a former senior CIA official held a crucial advisory position with NSO Group, where he reviewed contracts for the Israeli spyware company and cast votes on whether sales of the contentious hacking tools could proceed.
Read more: US government’s purchase, use of Israeli spyware to be investigated
Israeli-led spyware industry has been embroiled in a seemingly never-ending spate of extremely prominent controversies. Revelations that it sells its spyware to authoritarian regimes, that its products have been used to spy on journalists, activists, politicians, and even potentially world leaders, and accusations that it played a role in murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death have put it at the center of international criticism.
Last year, US senior senators said they will look into the government's purchase and use of strong spyware developed by two Israeli hacking firms.
