September 16, 2024 at 01:21PM
The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on individuals and an entity linked to the Intellexa Consortium, involved in creating and distributing invasive spyware. This move is part of the government’s broader effort to combat the misuse of commercial spyware. The Consortium, led by previously sanctioned Tal Jonathan Dilian, developed the ‘Predator’ spyware targeting iOS and Android platforms. These sanctions align with Apple’s recent lawsuit developments against NSO Group.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that the US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the Intellexa Consortium, a global business engaged in creating and distributing commercial spyware for surveillance campaigns.
The sanctions are part of the US government’s broader effort to combat the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware and surveillance tools. Individuals and entities sanctioned by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) include:
– Felix Bitzios
– Andrea Nicola Constantino Hermes Gambazzi
– Merom Harpaz
– Panagiota Karaoli
– Artemis Artemiou
– Aliada Group
The Intellexa Consortium is described as a complex international network of companies involved in the development and sale of the ‘Predator’ spyware, known for exploiting software vulnerabilities in iOS and Android platforms. The spyware is capable of accessing sensitive information on victims’ devices, such as photos, geolocation data, messages, and microphone records.
The sanctions follow Apple’s decision to drop a lawsuit against Israel’s NSO Group, highlighting the evolving dynamics in the commercial spyware industry and the challenges of addressing the broader surveillance software landscape.
The meeting notes also reference related news articles regarding the Intellexa Consortium and its spyware products, indicating the widespread impact and attention surrounding the issue.