The U.S. Department of State has announced additional visa restrictions on several individuals involved in the development or sale of commercial spyware. These measures are part of the United States' ongoing efforts to counter the proliferation and misuse of such technology, as outlined in the U.S. International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy.
Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, "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."
The recent actions follow a series of U.S. Government initiatives aimed at addressing the misuse of commercially available surveillance technology. This includes financial sanctions against enablers of the Intellexa Spyware Consortium and a joint statement led by the U.S. on efforts to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware.
The visa restrictions were imposed under Section 212 (a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, pursuant to a policy announced by Secretary Blinken in February 2024. This marks the second set of actions following an earlier announcement in April 2024.
