Promoting Accountability for the Misuse of Commercial Spyware
World News

Promoting Accountability for the Misuse of Commercial Spyware

Michael C

As part of the United States’ efforts to counter the ongoing proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware as documented today in the Department of State’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Department is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on 13 individuals who have been involved in the development and sale of commercial spyware or who are immediate family members of those involved.  These individuals have facilitated or derived financial benefit from the misuse of this technology, which has targeted journalists, academics, human rights defenders, dissidents and other perceived critics, and U.S. Government personnel.

The visa restrictions are part of a wider U.S. government initiative to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware, which has included restrictions on the U.S. government’s use of commercial spyware that poses a risk to national security or  human rights, export controls and sanctions to promote accountability, and civil society and private sector engagement to identify innovative technological solutions to prevent and respond to such misuse, protect human rights defenders, and build victim resilience.

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 approved in February 2024. 

Official news published at https://www.state.gov/promoting-accountability-for-the-misuse-of-commercial-spyware/

Politics - JISIP NEWS originally published at Politics - JISIP NEWS

United States Welcomes Slovenia’s Signing of the Artemis Accords Previous post United States Welcomes Slovenia’s Signing of the Artemis Accords
Secretary Antony J. Blinken On the 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Next post Secretary Antony J. Blinken On the 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

More News

The Future of Electric Commercial Aviation

The Future of Electric Commercial AviationThe Future of Electric Commercial AviationOver the next ten years, the commercial aviation industry is poised to undergo a transformative shift from traditional hydrocarbon-based propulsion toward electric propulsion. This change to electric commercial aviation is being driven by several key factors: environmental concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions, technological advancements in battery energy storage, rising interest in the use of […]

Michael C

U.S. Department of State Participates in the 19th Internet Governance Forum

U.S. Department of State Participates in the 19th Internet Governance ForumRepresentatives from the U.S. Department of State, including Jennifer Bachus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy; and Allison Peters, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; as well as Jaisha Wray, Assistant Administrator for the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, will […]

Michael C

Amendment and Extension of the U.S.-PRC Science and Technology Agreement (STA)

U.S. Department of State Participates in the 19th Internet Governance ForumOn December 13, 2024, the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) signed a protocol to amend the U.S.-PRC Science and Technology Agreement (STA) and extend it for five years.  The STA provides consistent standards for U.S.-PRC bilateral government-to-government scientific cooperation.  This modernized and strengthened Agreement sustains intellectual property protections, establishes new guardrails […]

Michael C