Commercial Spyware Opponents Fear US Policy Shifting

This report outlines growing concern that US policy and market developments in 2025–2026 have emboldened commercial spyware vendors: a paused Paragon contract was reactivated, sanctions against some Intellexa executives were lifted, Paragon and NSO changed ownership, and industry reporting shows commercial surveillance vendors are now responsible for a rising share of zero-day exploits. Civil-society groups warn these trends increase the likelihood of misuse, wider zero-day proliferation, and sustained spyware activity against journalists, officials, and others despite recent legal wins such as the Predatorgate convictions.