Action Needed to Protect Americans from Weaponized Surveillance Spyware

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to protect Americans from warrantless surveillance, particularly through the use of invasive spyware like Pegasus and other technologies. Investigations, including Ronan Farrow’s reporting in The New Yorker and the recent documentary Surveilled, have detailed the alarming global misuse of spyware against journalists, human rights defenders, and political figures. These revelations are a wake-up call: the United States must act now to protect its citizens and democracy from the abuse of these tools. Spyware like Pegasus allows for complete infiltration of a person’s phone—monitoring their messages, calls, emails, and even their physical movements—all without their knowledge or consent. Investigations have shown it has been used to target journalists, including Jamal Khashoggi’s associates, prior to his murder. These attacks on press freedom are not confined to other countries; they set a dangerous precedent that threatens American journalists and whistleblowers as well. The Trump administration reportedly explored using spyware domestically, and without clear legislation and oversight, it is only a matter of time before such tools are deployed against Americans. The risks to privacy, freedom of the press, and democracy itself are too great to ignore. I urge you to: 1. Ban the use of spyware like Pegasus against U.S. citizens and establish strict controls on surveillance technologies. 2. Strengthen legal safeguards to ensure no surveillance occurs without judicial oversight and probable cause. 3. Hold violators accountable, both domestically and internationally, for abuses of these technologies. 4. Advocate for international agreements to regulate the sale and export of spyware, especially to authoritarian regimes. Protecting Americans’ privacy is not a partisan issue—it is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of democracy. Congress must act swiftly to prevent the misuse of spyware and close the gaps in our surveillance laws that leave Americans vulnerable. Please let me know how you plan to address this critical issue. I look forward to your response. (https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-technology-the-trump-administration-could-use-to-hack-your-phone)