Promoting Accountability for the Misuse of Commercial Spyware

In line with the United States' commitment to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware and the U.S. International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy, the Department of State is taking steps to impose additional visa restrictions on multiple individuals who have been involved in the development or sale of commercial spyware. These individuals have facilitated or derived financial benefit from the misuse of this technology, which has targeted journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and government officials from around the world.

These restrictions follow recent U.S. Government actions to counter the misuse of this commercially available surveillance technology, including recent financial sanctions against enablers of the Intellexa Spyware Consortium, and the U.S.-led Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware.

The Department of State's steps to impose visa restrictions were taken pursuant to Section 212 (a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, under the policy Secretary Blinken announced in February 2024. This is the second set of actions, following the announcement of steps to impose restrictions in April 2024.

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