Combatting Foreign Surveillance Spyware Sanctions Act

HR 5557, the *Combatting Foreign Surveillance Spyware Sanctions Act*, authorizes sanctions against foreign entities and individuals involved in selling or using commercial spyware to target U.S. government officials or intelligence personnel. It allows the President to block assets, deny visas, and revoke existing visas for foreign companies selling such spyware, senior executives of those companies, or foreign government officials using spyware against U.S. personnel. The bill specifically targets spyware used to intimidate opponents, curb dissent, or suppress civil liberties, while excluding authorized U.S. intelligence activities and humanitarian aid from sanctions. These sanctions expire after seven years, and the law does not apply to U.S. government operations or international obligations like the UN headquarters agreement.