Global Surge in Government Spyware Use Raises Alarm Over Abuse and Impunity
WASHINGTON D.C. – A growing number of individuals are falling victim to hacking via elegant government spyware, prompting concerns about widespread abuse and a lack of accountability within the global surveillance technology market. Experts warn the “huge abuse temptation” inherent in these tools is leading to targeting beyond legitimate national security concerns.
The spyware, developed by companies like NSO Group, Intellexa, and Cytrox, allows governments to remotely access smartphones, read messages, track location, and even activate cameras and microphones. While marketed for use against criminals and terrorists, documented cases reveal targeting of journalists, activists, and political opponents.
“spyware needs to be treated like the threat to democracy and elections that it is indeed,” stated Scott-Railton, a researcher at the university of Toronto’s Citizen Lab.
The lack of transparency surrounding the industry contributes to a perceived “relative impunity” governments feel when deploying the technology,according to Matthew Galperin of Electronic Frontier Foundation. “The fact that we have seen targeting of relatively small fish is notably concerning as it reflects…the exceptionally invasive spyware against opponents.”
Recent actions indicate growing, tho limited, pushback against the unchecked proliferation of spyware. Paragon, a cybersecurity firm, publicly severed ties with the Italian government earlier in 2025 after authorities refused assistance investigating alleged abuses involving it’s spyware. NSO Group previously admitted in court to disconnecting 10 government customers in recent years for abusing its Pegasus spyware, though the countries involved remain undisclosed. Abuse has been widely documented in countries like Mexico and Saudi arabia.
Several nations are taking internal action. Greece and Poland have launched investigations into spyware abuses. The United States, under the Biden governance, has imposed sanctions on spyware makers Cytrox, Intellexa, and NSO Group, as well as on company executives, and added them to economic blocklists. A diplomatic effort led by the U.K. and France, known as the Pall Mall Process, is underway to curb the spyware market.
Despite these efforts, the global spyware market remains a multi-billion dollar industry, with companies continuing to supply advanced surveillance tools to governments worldwide. It remains unclear whether current measures will substantially limit the scope of government surveillance and protect individuals from invasive hacking.