US Sanctions Intellexa Consortium for Spyware Activities

The United States has imposed new sanctions on the Intellexa Consortium, a network of companies behind the Predator spyware, which has been implicated in mass surveillance campaigns against dissidents and journalists worldwide. The sanctions target five individuals, including Felix Bitzios, a key figure in the consortium, and the Aliada Group, a British Virgin Islands entity that facilitated significant financial transactions for Intellexa. U.S. officials highlighted that Predator allows unauthorized access to smartphones, enabling users to bypass security measures and gather sensitive information. These penalties build on previous sanctions against Intellexa, which was blacklisted last year for its role in threatening national security and civil liberties. Officials stated that the Biden administration will continue to hold accountable those involved in developing disruptive surveillance technologies. The actions reflect a broader strategy to curb the misuse of commercial spyware and protect privacy rights.