US sanctions spyware company Intellexa for targeting American journalists and officials

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on individuals associated with Intellexa Consortium, a spyware company responsible for developing the notorious Predator Spyware. The sanctions target the company and its executives for their role in developing, operating, and distributing technology used to target US government officials, journalists, and policy experts.

 

Intellexa Consortium, led by a former Israeli military officer, has been accused of selling and distributing commercial spyware and surveillance tools for targeted and mass surveillance campaigns. Entities associated with Intellexa, including Cytrox AD, Cytrox Holdings ZRT, and Thalestris Limited, have also been sanctioned for their involvement in developing and distributing the Predator Spyware.

 

The Predator Spyware, known for its capability to infiltrate electronic devices through zero-click attacks, has been utilized in numerous countries for unauthorized data extraction, geolocation tracking, and accessing personal information on compromised devices. This marks the first time the Treasury Department has sanctioned individuals or entities for the misuse of spyware, highlighting the growing concern over the security risks posed by commercial surveillance tools.

 

Brian Nelson, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, emphasized the importance of establishing clear guidelines for the responsible development and use of such technologies while protecting human rights and civil liberties worldwide.

 

The Commerce Department had previously blacklisted Intellexa and Cytrox, denying them access to US technology. Reports from Amnesty International’s Security Lab and the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab have documented instances of Predator Spyware being used to target high-profile individuals, including government officials and activists, raising concerns about the widespread misuse of commercial spyware.

 

Intellexa, established in 2019 by Tal Dilian, has faced scrutiny for its role in facilitating surveillance activities. Both Dilian and Sara Hamou, corporate off-shoring specialists associated with Intellexa, have been sanctioned by the Treasury Department.