US, 10 countries issue first-ever anti-spyware declaration

Source: The post is based on the article “US, 10 countries issue first-ever anti-spyware declaration” published in Wion on 6th April 2023

What is the News?

The US and 10 other nations have issued the first-ever significant anti-spyware declaration. India was not part of this declaration.

What is Spyware?

Click Here to read

What is the aim of the anti-spyware declaration?

The declaration seeks to realize the importance of stringent domestic and international controls on the proliferation and use of this spyware technology.

The declaration committed to preventing the export of software, technology, and equipment to end-users who are likely to use spyware for malicious cyber activity, including unauthorized intrusion into information systems.

The countries also said they would engage in robust information sharing on commercial spyware proliferation and misuse including better identifying and tracking these tools.

Which countries have signed an anti-spyware declaration?

Countries such as Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States have signed this declaration.

What was the need for this declaration?

Commercial spyware has been misused across the world by authoritarian regimes and in democracies.

Too often, such powerful and invasive tools have been used to target and intimidate perceived opponents and facilitate efforts to curb dissent; limit freedoms of expression and enable human rights violations.