general🌐InternationalThe Record
Treasury Reverses Sanctions on Three Intellexa Spyware Executives
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
What
The US Treasury Department reversed sanctions against three individuals previously designated for their roles in the Intellexa Consortium, a notorious spyware maker. This move is a stark reversal of the Biden administration's crackdown on commercial spyware, raising concerns about accountability and national security implications.
Where
US Treasury, OFAC, Intellexa Consortium; affecting individuals tied to Intellexa's global operations, with Predator spyware used in Iraq, Pakistan, Mozambique, DRC, Angola, UAE, Madagascar, and linked to Russian government exploits.
When
Delisted Tuesday; original sanctions in March and September 2024; Predator spyware use observed through late June 2025.
Key Factors
- •The unexplained delisting of Merom Harpaz, Andrea Gambazzi, and Sara Hamou, key figures in the Intellexa Consortium's corporate structure, marks a significant policy shift.
- •This reversal contradicts the Biden administration's prior efforts to crack down on commercial spyware manufacturers and raises questions about the criteria for sanctions removal.
- •Despite the delisting, Predator spyware remains active globally, with researchers noting potential for undetected continued deployment due to evolving infrastructure.
Takeaways
- →The public and cybersecurity community require transparent justification from the Treasury Department regarding the evidence supporting the removal of these sanctions.
- →This decision risks undermining future efforts to deter the proliferation of commercial spyware and could signal to bad actors that such behavior carries minimal consequences.
