A cybersecurity expert emphasized the importance of international cooperation to ensure transparency in the surveillance software ecosystem, asserting that such collaboration is crucial to prevent the unethical use of covert technologies, which, if left unchecked, could lead to irreversible consequences such as loss of privacy and erosion of public trust in governing institutions.
Yoon Sang-pil, a research professor at the School of Cybersecurity at Korea University, discussed real-world cases where surveillance software has been used in countries like Mexico and Saudi Arabia to suppress journalists and violate private citizens’ civil liberties. He delivered this speech during the inaugural Cybersecurity Law Forum, hosted by the Law and Policy Research Committee of the Korean Association of Cybersecurity Studies (KACS).
The research professor raised grave concerns about the potential impact of spyware on civil society. Notably, such surveillance technology is not limited to authoritarian regimes but also infiltrates democratic countries.
Citing the findings of the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry on the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) in 2023, Yoon revealed conclusive evidence of such software being deployed in Poland, Greece, Hungary, and Spain. Pegasus, a notorious spyware, is developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, and is known for infiltrating iOS and Android devices without users’ knowledge, secretly collecting information such as texts, emails, location data, and more.
In addition to the revelations from the European Union, the professor also cited research from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. According to a 2023 working paper, at least seventy-four governments collaborated with private organizations to acquire surveillance tools between 2011 and 2023. Notably, among these governments, thirty were classified as electoral democracies or, in other words, liberal democracies—a form of government in which the constitution and the rule of law are declared to be supreme.
According to Yoon, incorporating the spyware ecosystem into the international framework is crucial. Adding transparency to this grey zone, where malicious tools are developed and obtained without restrictions, can mitigate potential harm. His suggestion to include surveillance software in the Wassenaar Arrangement aligns with its original purpose—to promote transparency and responsibility in transferring conventional arms and dual-use technologies
“The challenge we also have to consider is the nature of surveillance technologies, which are not as detectable as submarines or missiles,” said the expert. “Another point we need to examine is their dual-use nature. Similar to artificial intelligence technology, it’s not about prohibiting the technology itself, as it can also be used to enhance security.”
Cho Jung-hyun, a professor of international law at the Law School of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, echoed the need for balanced regulation of surveillance software. “Implementing international standards to control malicious software is crucial given the times we are facing,” said Cho. “However, we cannot ignore its positive impacts. We must approach this issue with a balanced perspective.”
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