S.T.O.P. Condemns ICE Contract For Previously Banned Phone Hacking Tech

S.T.O.P. condemns ICE for reactivating its contract with controversial Israeli spyware vendor Paragon Solutions.

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns ICE Contract For Previously Banned Phone Hacking Tech (New York, NY 9/3/2025) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemns ICE for reactivating its contract with controversial Israeli spyware vendor Paragon Solutions, which sells software for hacking phones and other devices. Last year, the Biden administration blocked ICE’s previous contract with Paragon because the software has been used to target journalists and immigration activists in Europe. S.T.O.P. warned ICE use of Paragon poses a dangerous threat to free speech, immigrant communities, and U.S. democracy itself. SEE: The Washington Post - ICE reactivates contract with previously banned spyware vendor https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/09/02/ice-paragon-spyware-ban-lifted/ “Paragon will allow ICE to turn our phones into real-time wiretaps,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Communications Director Will Owen. “Governments abroad have already used this tech for authoritarian means. ICE is a lawless agency with no respect for the Constitution, so it’s terrifying to think how they will use Paragon to target immigrant communities and repress the journalists and activists calling out their cruelty.” SEE: The Guardian - Ice obtains access to Israeli-made spyware that can hack phones and encrypted apps https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/02/trump-immigration-ice-israeli-spyware In 2021, S.T.O.P. condemned the sale of similar hacking software used to target journalists and activists by Israeli spyware firm NSO Group. Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories found that NSO’s Pegasus software was used to track journalists, activists, politicians, business executives, and other officials in over 50 countries. SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Condemns NSO Group Spyware Targeting Journalists, Activists, Calls For U.S. Ban https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2021/7/19/stop-condemns-nso-group-spyware-targeting-journalists-activists-calls-for-us-ban?rq=Pegasus Fast Company - Why NSO Group’s spyware is such a big threat to democracy https://www.fastcompany.com/90658784/nso-group-pegasus-spyware-democracy The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   -- END -- Copyright © 2025 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.