Spyware has been offered by commercial companies for quite some time now, and while many have pointed to the harm that it can cause, it wasn’t until recently that a major company like Google voiced its concerns. According to research conducted by Google’s threat intelligence analysis department, CSVs, or commercial spyware vendors, are becoming an increasingly serious problem, and they’re compromising free speech on the internet.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that spyware can be used to obtain intelligence regarding journalists, politicians, as well as people that defend human rights. These people have a right to privacy, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, spyware allows governments and anyone that has enough money to purchase the software to keep tabs on them.
What's more is that this creates a ripple effect that turns practically every device into a tool for spying with all things having been considered and taken into account. Google is worried about the quantity of malicious actors that are offering these products to anyone that can afford them, stating that there might be a lot more than the ones that have made headlines in recent years and months.
What this basically means is that the problem is likely a lot more serious than we are aware of at this current point in time. It bears mentioning that Google’s statements followed those made by the US State Department, with the Secretary of State’s spokesperson announcing increased restrictions for visas in order to prevent commercial spyware from being misused.
Google is alleging that the government’s tactics aren’t going to be nearly enough to stem the influx of CSVs that are profiting greatly nowadays. There was a time not all that long ago when only government institutions and agencies had access to the latest spyware, but the private sector now possesses far more powerful spyware tools, and this might lead to the situation spiraling out of control. Governments are also responsible for this, since they are most often the ones that buy spyware from private companies.
Image: Digital Information World - AIgen
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With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that spyware can be used to obtain intelligence regarding journalists, politicians, as well as people that defend human rights. These people have a right to privacy, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, spyware allows governments and anyone that has enough money to purchase the software to keep tabs on them.
What's more is that this creates a ripple effect that turns practically every device into a tool for spying with all things having been considered and taken into account. Google is worried about the quantity of malicious actors that are offering these products to anyone that can afford them, stating that there might be a lot more than the ones that have made headlines in recent years and months.
What this basically means is that the problem is likely a lot more serious than we are aware of at this current point in time. It bears mentioning that Google’s statements followed those made by the US State Department, with the Secretary of State’s spokesperson announcing increased restrictions for visas in order to prevent commercial spyware from being misused.
Google is alleging that the government’s tactics aren’t going to be nearly enough to stem the influx of CSVs that are profiting greatly nowadays. There was a time not all that long ago when only government institutions and agencies had access to the latest spyware, but the private sector now possesses far more powerful spyware tools, and this might lead to the situation spiraling out of control. Governments are also responsible for this, since they are most often the ones that buy spyware from private companies.
Read next: TikTok Introduces New Search Shortcut for Home Screens
