US To Restrict Visas For Those Who Misuse Commercial Spyware

The U.S. has announced new visa restrictions for individuals and companies misusing commercial spyware to surveil, harass or intimidate journalists, activists and other dissidents. Citing a senior Biden administration official, Reuters adds that the new policy will also apply to investors and operators of the commercial spyware believed to be misused. At least 50 U.S. officials have been targeted by private hacking tools in recent years.

Commercial spyware

[saloomy]

Should be illegal under the consumer fraud and abuse act. If you use Spyware you should go to jail. Same if you sell it. Even to government.

Re:

[schwit1]

Get real. The CFAA is a US law and it apples only to non-government entities. The FBI and CIA laugh at things like this. So do other country's security servicies.

Re:

[saloomy]

I am not saying the FBI agents should go to jail. I am saying if Palantir sells spyware to the FBI, their officers and security researchers should go to jail. The market for security research should be limited to finding bugs, and collecting bug bounties. Obviously this would be a US thing only, but then I would go one step further. If the US Govt finds a security vulnerability. They should be forced to report it to the bug bounties and receive the prize for finding it. Imagine finding out a weak spot in a

Re:

[noshellswill]

Imprison tax-paying C-suites? Surely ... surely you jest. Using your example, every government on earth will sell that defective iron girder to an enemy state. Every C-suite on earth will sell that defective profit-generating girder to anyone willing to buy ... then parachute to a West Indies  estate. An individual craftsman ... well there you have the prime argument for a Luddite culture.   

Re:

[pete6677]

I'm sure this won't be politically abused at all. No way.

Re:

[vladoshi]

Such an American term - friendly fire, collateral damage, commercial spyware, the right to work. Does anything mean how it is spelt in America?

Makes you wonder

[Slashythenkilly]

Does that include the NSA and CIA as well?

Re:

[Geoffrey.landis]

Does that include the NSA and CIA as well?

From the article [reuters.com]:
"President Joseph Biden signed an executive order, opens new tab last year to curb the malicious use of digital spy tools around the globe that target U.S. personnel and civil society. The order barred U.S. agencies from doing business with such companies"

Re:

[alvinrod]

The NSA probably rolls their own spyware. The CIA might as well, but they seem just as likely to acquire it under the table. If someone in the intelligence community isn't at least getting a pirate copy of the spyware to make sure their own systems are secure against it or to learn how it functions to protect against it then they aren't doing their jobs properly.

Re:

[eriks]

...The order barred U.S. agencies from doing business with such companies

So they're fine to target journalists with spyware if they use tools developed in-house, so business as usual.

...in fairness, there's a lot gov can do I can't

[Somervillain]

Does that include the NSA and CIA as well?

I also can't own a jet fighter or nuclear missile. I know it makes you feel like a badass to question your government, but I generally have no problem with spy agencies having more powers than private citizens. Look at what happened last year in Israel when intelligence fails.

You have 2 options...either never anger anyone nor catch the attention of terrorists or hostile powers....or your gov does some unsavory shit to keep you alive. I honestly don't want to know what they're doing and I just want to

Re:

[packrat0x]

Actually, in the US of A, you *CAN* own fighter jets.
You can even get ammunition for them (depending on county of residence).

It simply requires an army (or navy) of attorneys and paralegals
to fill out all the paperwork. (Campaign donations to the local Sheriff are
also helpful).

It's more a question of Return on Investment. There's usually no *money*
to be made owning a fighter jet, so most Americans don't bother.

As for nuclear missles, the missle part is waaaay easier than a fighter jet.
The nuclear warhead

Re: ...in fairness, there's a lot gov can do I can

[Slashythenkilly]

Dont pretend you know me, my motivations, experience, or understanding of the government you pretentious garbage poster.

Ummm.

[Dustin Destree]

So does the government have like a PDF or instructable or how to on the proper use of spyware?

Unfortunately,

[Baloo Uriza]

The Republican Party and its worst terrorists are natural citizens we can't deport.

Re:

[muh_freeze_peach]

Who's gonna do all the cheap labor for your overlords if you cut the supply of your sweet sweet migrant workers.

spyware users

[gary s]

I guess these criminals will just have to go to Mexico swim across the border and come to the USA illegally like everyone else

like say...

[sxpert]

the israeli government ?

Serves them right!

[Gravis Zero]

This is why I only use mom's homemade spyware. That commercial stuff just doesn't have the same flavor. ;)