Trump Administration Lifts Sanctions on Three Intellexa Executives
The administration of President Donald Trump has lifted sanctions on three executives linked to the spyware consortium Intellexa, according to a notice published on the U.S. Treasury Department’s website. The decision marks a partial reversal of measures introduced last year under President Joe Biden, which targeted seven individuals associated with the group.
Reversal of Previous Sanctions
The Treasury Department had previously described Intellexa, founded by former Israeli intelligence officer Tal Dilian, as “a complex international web of decentralised companies that built and commercialised a comprehensive suite of highly invasive spyware products.” The latest update removes sanctions on Sara Hamou, Andrea Gambazzi, and Merom Harpaz.
Hamou was accused of providing managerial services to Intellexa, Gambazzi’s firm allegedly held distribution rights to the Predator spyware, and Harpaz was described as a senior executive within the consortium. All three declined to respond to requests for comment, as did representatives of Intellexa.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, said the decision followed “the normal administrative process” after a petition for reconsideration. The official added that each of the three individuals had demonstrated “measures to separate themselves from the Intellexa Consortium.” The Treasury Department declined to offer further comment.
Intellexa’s Controversial Record
Intellexa’s flagship spyware, known as Predator, has been at the centre of a major scandal in Greece, where it was allegedly used to monitor a journalist, a prominent opposition figure, and several others. In 2023, investigative media outlets also reported that Vietnam’s government attempted to hack members of the U.S. Congress using Intellexa’s tools.
Tal Dilian, who remains sanctioned, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or involvement in the Greek case and has not commented publicly on the reported hacking attempts targeting U.S. lawmakers.
Broader Concerns Over Spyware Use
In its initial sanctions announced in March last year, the U.S. government accused Intellexa of facilitating the global spread of commercial spyware technologies. Officials alleged that its software was used by authoritarian regimes to target journalists, policymakers, and even U.S. government officials. The move to lift sanctions on some of its executives, however, highlights the complex administrative process surrounding sanctions enforcement and review.
with inputs from Reuters
