US Expands Export Control List to Include Two European Surveillance Firms

The US Commerce Department has added two European-based surveillance firms, Cytrox and Intellexa, to its economic trade blacklist due to their involvement in trafficking cyber exploits used for unauthorized access to information systems. These firms, similar to Israel's NSO Group, provide clients with the ability to hack into smartphones and other devices, compromising individuals' privacy and security. The move is part of President Joe Biden's administration's efforts to counter the misuse of commercial spyware.