Your current location:HOME >politics >With secret contract, U.S. uses spyware to supervise world: NYT 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 19:44:09 Source: Internet compilationEdit:politics
This photo taken on Feb. 3, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinh
This photo taken on Feb. 3, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
The secret contract violates the Biden administration's public policy, and still appears to be active.
NEW YORK, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Under the secret contract finalized on Nov. 8, 2021, the Israeli firm, NSO Group, gave the U.S. government access to one of its most powerful weapons -- a geolocation tool that can covertly track mobile phones around the world without the phone user's knowledge or consent, reported The New York Times (NYT) on Sunday.
"Only five days earlier, the Biden administration had announced it was taking action against NSO, whose hacking tools for years had been abused by governments around the world to spy on political dissidents, human rights activists and journalists," said the report.
The White House placed NSO on a Commerce Department blacklist, declaring the company a national security threat and sending the message that American companies should stop doing business with it, according to the report.
The secret contract "violates the Biden administration's public policy, and still appears to be active," said the report, noting the contract stated that the "United States government" would be the ultimate user of the tool, although it is unclear which government agency authorized the deal and might be using the spyware.
"Asked about the contract, White House officials said it was news to them. Spokesmen for the White House and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to make any further comment, leaving unresolved questions: What intelligence or law enforcement officials knew about the contract when it was signed?" asked the report.
"The secret contract further illuminates the ongoing battle for control of powerful cyberweapons, both among and within governments, including the United States," it added.
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University2024-05-21 19:36
Xi Meets Russian Foreign Minister2024-05-21 19:31
Asian film festival welcomes week of Chinese works2024-05-21 19:30
Living in Downing Street was like being a prisoner in a soulless cage2024-05-21 19:27
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo2024-05-21 18:56
Nanjing Railway Station experienced a small peak of passenger flow in weekend2024-05-21 18:53
News Analysis: Türkiye's economic woes far from over amid tumbling currency, looming debt2024-05-21 18:47
Residents of Beijing2024-05-21 18:39
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI2024-05-21 18:07
Xi Meets National Assembly of Vietnam Chairman, Urges Strong Sense of Community with Shared Future2024-05-21 17:28
Tom Brady and Jay2024-05-21 19:44
Qiongzhou Strait faced peak of return travel during Spring Festival migration2024-05-21 19:41
Commentary: Sowing discord, fanning flames no good for peace in Middle East2024-05-21 19:14
Xi Meets National Assembly of Vietnam Chairman2024-05-21 19:13
Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient2024-05-21 18:50
Xi, Lula Send Congratulatory Letters to Seminar Involving CPC, Workers' Party of Brazil2024-05-21 18:08
Commentary: Working together for enduring China2024-05-21 18:02
Xi Meets Russian Foreign Minister2024-05-21 17:45
Trump accepts a VP debate but wants it on Fox News. Harris has already said yes to CBS2024-05-21 17:28
Commentary: Sowing discord, fanning flames no good for peace in Middle East2024-05-21 17:10