Biden Admin. Adds ‘Mercenary Spyware’ Firms to Ban List – Malware News – Malware Analysis, News …>
– MalBot
The Biden administration has added several mercenary spyware firms to the U.S. government’s list of prohibited foreign technology companies. The ban, which went into effect on Tuesday, bars any U.S. company from buying, selling, or transferring technology from these firms without specific authorization. The mercenary spyware companies added to the ban list are Gamma International, FinFisher, and NSO Group. All three of these companies have been accused of helping authoritarian regimes spy on political opponents, journalists, and human rights activists. In a statement, the U.S. State Department said that the ban would “enforce measures that prevent the use of technological tools to amplify and extend the power of authoritarian regimes.” The Biden administration is also reportedly zeroing in on Chinese tech firm, Huawei. The Trump administration had already initiated a ban on Huawei but the Biden administration is taking steps to expand it. It’s unclear what the exact effects of the bans on these spyware firms and Huawei would be, however, it is likely to add to the tensions between the US and other countries.
Link: https://malware.news/t/biden-admin-adds-mercenary-spyware-firms-to-ban-list/71519