https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/22/techcrunch-disrupts-security-stage-highlights-the-risks-of-spyware-government-surveillance/ > Governments all over the world, authoritarian and democratic, use spyware to hack the phones of activists, journalists, and political rivals who are critical of their governments. > Initially, the spyware industry consisted of a few known actors, like Hacking Team and FinFisher. But over the past decade — as the technology evolved and smartphones and computers became ubiquitous — the industry has ballooned in size. Can this industry operate legally and ethically? If not, what can we do to counter state-backed abuse of spyware and its violent consequences, including harassment, arbitrary detention, and killings?