Combatting Foreign Surveillance Spyware Sanctions Act

HR 5522, the *Combatting Foreign Surveillance Spyware Sanctions Act*, imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign entities and individuals involved in selling or using commercial spyware that targets U.S. government personnel or suppresses civil liberties. It directly affects foreign companies, their executives, and foreign government officials who knowingly enable spyware to target U.S. officials or engage in activities like intimidating dissent or restricting freedoms. Key mechanisms include blocking financial transactions involving targeted entities and barring individuals from entering the U.S. via visa restrictions or revoking existing visas. The bill explicitly excludes authorized U.S. intelligence activities, humanitarian aid, and agricultural/medical trade from sanctions.