Lawmakers Urge Commerce Department to Sanction Indian Firms for Mercenary Hacking Against U.S. Citizens
A bipartisan, bicameral group of U.S. lawmakers, including Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), along with Representative Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), has formally requested the Commerce Department to impose sanctions on three Indian firms: Sunkissed Organic Farms (formerly Appin), BellTroX, and CyberRoot. These companies are accused of engaging in mercenary hacking activities targeting U.S. citizens and businesses. The request, detailed in a letter sent to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik, highlights that these entities have systematically targeted newsrooms investigating corporate fraud, legal teams involved in high-stakes litigation, and non-governmental organizations. Their alleged victims also include senior executives at companies like WeWork and Wirecard, foreign heads of state, and U.S. political figures. The lawmakers assert that these firms have conducted espionage against U.S. interests for over fifteen years and have also used global legal systems to censor investigative repor...
