The Trump
administration is giving Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) access to spyware that is considered
one of the most powerful hacking tools and
cyber-weapons on the planet. Graphite, a malware
tool by Israeli-based company Paragon Solutions, allows governments to
monitor and take control of civilians' phones — with the
ability to read messages, photos, documents, and
location data, and covertly turn on microphones and
cameras.
The worst part is: ICE doesn't
even need physical access to your phone in order to do
this. This tool can actually allow ICE to invade and
hack your phone no matter where you (or your device)
are.
Paragon was previously in the news after
the Italian government was caught using it to target
journalists, humanitarian organizers, and political
dissidents. Not only has there already been
precedent for governments maliciously turning this
spyware against its own people — but additionally, since
this tool was created outside of the U.S., there's no
guarantee it won't sell the data it accesses to
hostile governments elsewhere. This could create a
huge security risk, not only for individuals within the
U.S., but even for the U.S. as a whole.
This is a
dangerous escalation of ICE's authority and its ability
to track, surveil, and target people in the U.S. ICE has
already become well-known for ignoring due process,
snatching people off the streets while wearing masks and
hiding their identification, and human rights
infringements. This is not an agency that can be
trusted with this level of power and such an insidious
weapon.
Congress must do its duty and set
limits on the executive branch, now. Sign the petition to demand
that Congress immediately pass legislation to block the
use of this cyber-weapon against
civilians!
