Hacking Team’s License To Sell Spyware Outside Europe Revoked

The Italian government reportedly has revoked the infamous Hacking Team's global export license. The controversial spyware vendor will now require individual authorization for future exports of its spyware to countries other than the EU.

“Yes, the global license has been suspended by MISE but Hacking Team still has approvals for all countries within the EU, and the company also expects to be given approvals for sales to countries outside the EU,” Eric Rabe, Hacking Team’s spokesperson told Motherboard.

According to Motherboard, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) said the spyware vendor had exported its products to countries including Malaysia, Egypt, Thailand, among others, and “in light of changed political situations" in one of those nations, the new export restriction was set.

Italian prosecutors reportedly have launched an investigation over whether Hacking Team CEO David Vincenzetti and his firm had been involved in nefarious activity with their spyware exports. “The investigation regarding David Vincenzetti seems to be a review of past sales, all of which were conducted in accordance with laws and regulations in place when the sales were made,” Hacking Team's Rabe said.

Read this Motherboard article for more information.