US Bans Selling Spyware

The US Commerce Department has announced that it will apply tighter controls on companies selling hacking tools to certain foreign governments and US companies will soon need to obtain a license to sell certain kinds of software. The new rule specifically includes cyber security tools that could be used for hacking or surveillance. 

The rule issued by the agency’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will require companies to obtain a license to sell hacking technology to certain countries deemed threats to US interests and will come into effect in January 2022.

BIS will establish “controls on the export, re-export or transfer (in-country) of certain items that can be used for malicious cyber activities.” The rule also creates a new License Exception Authorised Cybersecurity Exports (ACE) and requests public comments on the projected impact of the proposed controls on US industry and the cyber security community. 

The lengthy rule is complicated, but would require US firms to secure a license to export select cyber technologies to countries “of national security or weapons of mass destruction concern,” including Russia and China. 

The rule includes license requirements for companies that wish to sell cyber technologies to companies under US arms embargo, or users who could intentionally misuse products. “These items warrant controls because these tools could be used for surveillance, espionage, or other actions that disrupt, deny or degrade the network or devices on it,” the interim rule reads. The new rule has been under preparation for several years and the BIS received nearly 300 comments about the proposed rule, including concerns that changes might limit legitimate cyber research and incident response activities. 

 According to BIS, the agency “conducted extensive outreach with the security industry, financial institutions, and government agencies that manage cybersecurity” before scrapping some of the rule’s original conditions, bringing the US government on par with 42 other nations that are members of the Wassenaar Arrangement. This is an international arrangement that sets voluntary export controls on some military and civilian purposes.

The interim rule imposes regulations on the sale of hacking tools, which most other member nations had already done. “The United States is committed to working with our multilateral partners to deter the spread of certain technologies that can be used for malicious activities that threaten cybersecurity and human rights... The Commerce Department’s interim final rule imposing export controls on certain cybersecurity items is an appropriately tailored approach that protects America’s national security against malicious cyber actors while ensuring legitimate cybersecurity activities,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.

It is unclear how effective the controls will be in slowing countries such as Israel, China and Russia from amassing more hacking expertise. 

These countries already command extensive cyber power, security experts say, with China investing heavily in emerging technologies and Moscow providing safe harbor to criminal hacking gangs that target the US and other rival nations.  Israel is the location of several companies with expertise in surveillance and spyware techniques. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said China is a frequent target of cyber attacks and the export controls highlight US hacking capabilities.

While state-sponsored foreign hackers mainly target other government systems, there's no shortage of domestic and overseas hackers attempting to infiltrate businesses and personal accounts.

NextGov:   US Commerce Dept:    Reuters:    WSJ:    The Record:    Stratfor Worldview:   MSPP Alert:    Tech.co 

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