TechCrunch Disrupt’s Security Stage Highlights Risks of Spyware and Government Surveillance
The Spyware Industry is Out of Control. Now What?
Governments around the world, both authoritarian and democratic, are using spyware to hack the phones of activists, journalists, and political rivals who speak out against their governments. The spyware industry has grown exponentially over the past decade as technology has evolved and smartphones have become ubiquitous.
The Evolution of the Spyware Industry
Initially, the spyware industry consisted of a few well-known actors, such as Hacking Team and FinFisher. However, as the technology improved and more people began to use smartphones and computers, the industry expanded rapidly. Today, there are numerous companies involved in developing and selling spyware to governments around the world.
Can Governments Use Spyware Legally?
But can governments use these technologies at all? And if so, how do we ensure they use them proportionately, fairly, and legally? These are questions that policymakers, tech companies, and civil society organizations need to grapple with. The surveillance genie is not going back in the bottle, but we need to find ways to regulate its use.
The Importance of Vulnerability Disclosure
Governments using spyware that exploit flaws found in billions of phones put everyone at risk. Should there be a vulnerabilities equities process to ensure serious vulnerabilities are reported and disclosed to the relevant technology companies affected? This is not only a matter of national security but also a matter of public safety.
What Can Tech Companies Do?
We’ve already seen companies like Apple step up their counter-spyware protections aimed at preventing digital intrusions that target at-risk users. But what more can tech companies do to fix spyware-exploitable security flaws they don’t even know about? This is a complex issue that requires collaboration between tech companies, policymakers, and civil society organizations.
Meet Our Experts
We’re thrilled that Marietje Schaake, the international policy director at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center, and John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, will join us on the Security Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. They will tackle this challenging topic in their session, ‘The Spyware Industry is Out of Control. Now What?’
Marietje Schaake: A Vocal Advocate Against Spyware Abuse
Marietje Schaake has been a vocal advocate against spyware abuse for over a decade. She served as a member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019, where she worked on trade, foreign, and tech policy. During her time in office, she pushed for regulating government spyware and was one of the first lawmakers in the world to speak out against its use.
John Scott-Railton: Uncovering Spyware Operations
John Scott-Railton is a senior researcher at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab. He has been investigating spyware operations around the world, exposing the use of surveillance technology by governments and companies. His work has shed light on the scope and scale of the spyware industry.
Join the Discussion
The session ‘The Spyware Industry is Out of Control. Now What?’ will take place on the Security Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. Join us to discuss the implications of the growing spyware industry and what can be done to regulate its use.
About Our Experts
Marietje Schaake is the international policy director at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center. She has over a decade of experience working on trade, foreign, and tech policy in the European Parliament.
John Scott-Railton is a senior researcher at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab. He has been investigating spyware operations around the world, exposing the use of surveillance technology by governments and companies.
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