What we know about how the U.S. government uses spyware : NPR

Key Points:

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed its use of spyware tools to combat foreign terrorist groups and fentanyl traffickers, marking a shift in U.S. government policy on commercial spyware.
• Critics warn the Trump administration is reversing the Biden administration's hardline stance against spyware companies, lifting sanctions on some firms and potentially easing restrictions on NSO Group, known for its Pegasus spyware linked to human rights abuses.
• ICE's contract history with Paragon Solutions, a spyware company, is unclear, with questions about whether the agency still uses its tools after the contract was paused and later modified; transparency and oversight concerns persist.
• Privacy advocates fear the expanded use of spyware may target immigrants, protesters, and political opponents without adequate legal safeguards, especially amid the Trump administration's focus on "violent left-wing extremists."
• NSO Group has intensified lobbying efforts and hired a Trump ally as chairman to gain favor with the current administration, aiming to be removed from the U.S. Commerce Department's blacklist and secure government contracts despite ongoing legal challenges.