US sanctions on spyware maker includes Irish firm

Intellexa Limited is a Dublin-based company within the Intellexa Consortium acting as a technology reseller and holds assets on behalf of the consortium, the US Treasury said

The sanctions target Tal Dilian, an Israeli intelligence agency veteran who in 2019 founded Intellexa Consortium

The US has imposed sanctions on the makers of “Predator” spyware, a sophisticated surveillance technology that Biden administration officials say has been used to target US officials and enable human rights abuses.

It marks the first time the US has imposed sanctions on individuals and companies associated with misuse of spyware, which can take over a phone or other electronic device, including accessing microphone recordings and other data, without a victim clicking any link.