The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: The State of the Spyware Industry with Jen Roberts and Sarah Graham
Oct 9, 2025
Jen Roberts, Associate Director at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, and Sarah Graham, Research Consultant at the same organization, dive into the complex world of commercial spyware. They explore the evolution of the spyware industry, highlighting the surge in U.S. investment and the geographic centers of major players like Israel and Italy. The guests also discuss the implications of 'strategic jurisdiction hopping' and corporate rebranding, which complicate tracking. Their insights shed light on the need for robust policy approaches in addressing spyware's growing influence.
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What Spyware Actually Is
- Spyware is software that enables unauthorized remote access to internet-enabled devices for surveillance or data extraction.
- It often exfiltrates calls, texts, photos, locations, and can operate without user interaction.
Why States Purchase Spyware
- States buy commercial spyware when they cannot develop tools or when they avoid burning their own capabilities.
- Buyers use these tools for national security and other surveillance purposes.
Spyware Ecosystem Mapped: 561 Entities
- The Atlantic Council mapped 561 entities across vendors, suppliers, investors, and partners by end of 2024.
- The dataset expanded from 435 to 561, adding vendors, suppliers, countries, and many U.S. investors.