During its third Democracy Summit on March 18, 2024, the White House made a major announcement confirming that six additional nations have pledged their support to an international coalition focused on countering commercial spyware.
With the inclusion of Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland and the Republic of Korea, the international coalition has significantly expanded its reach. These nations now stand alongside Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, marking a global effort to combat this threat.
The announcement of these new members is a testament to the rapid growth and importance of the year-old coalition. It underlines the urgency of the issue and the global recognition of the need to combat commercial spyware.
Six more countries pledge to protect against spyware
The White House says the misuse of commercial spyware in both authoritarian regimes and democracies poses national security risks, putting government personnel, information and systems at risk. These technologies have already been used globally to intimidate opponents, suppress dissent, and even violate human rights and threaten civil liberties.
In an attempt to combat the growing threats, the United States and other countries that agree with the effort have committed to ensuring that spyware remains aligned with human rights, the law and civil liberties.
Countries have also committed to preventing the export of software, technology and equipment to end users who are likely to use them for malicious cyber activities, as well as collaborating with other governments and agencies globally by sharing information.
In addition to serving to protect, the coalition aims to defend democratic values and encourage responsible innovation. Similar to the Bletchley Declaration designed to address the risks of artificial intelligence, this high-level government approach is expected to carry more weight in protecting countries, crucial services and citizens.
