"White House Implements Ban on Spyware After 50 US Officials Targeted"

At least 50 US government employees have been targeted with commercial spyware that hacks smartphones to spy on their owners, according to the White House. President Joe Biden will sign an executive order aimed at curtailing spyware abuse by setting guidelines for the companies that produce it. The order gives the White House the power to ban a company’s software across all federal agencies if it is found to have used spyware to target activists, curb political dissent or spy on Americans. Spyware companies have been repeatedly deployed against journalists, political candidates, researchers and activists around the world, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights advocates.