A growing threat haunts journalists and political activists worldwide: spyware, a new form of electronic surveillance that presents considerable challenges to freedom of the press. Various actors, including private companies, have developed sophisticated malware to infiltrate personal computers and smartphones, avoiding detection. Governments and other actors worldwide, especially in Latin America, are deploying these tools to spy on rivals and critics, including politicians, activists, and journalists who are largely defenseless against this surveillance. The illegal surveillance of journalists exposes them to blackmail, puts their sources at risk, and discourages investigative reporting, including investigations into public corruption.

On Thursday, September 7, 2023, we hosted a public dialogue on the urgent threat of private and state-sponsored surveillance and defending the freedom of the press. The dialogue was cohosted by the Wilson Center’s Latin America Program and IREX under the Civil Society and Media – Strengthened Together and in Advancing in New Directions initiative, together with the Wilson Center’s partners: Luminate, the International Republican Institute, and the Center for Media Integrity.

Civil Society and Media – Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM-STAND) is a USAID-funded, five-year Leader with Associates Award cooperative agreement to foster independent civic forces; enhance civic engagement; and build vibrant, resilient, and selfreliant civil society and media sectors that cultivate more pluralistic, democratic societies. CSM-STAND is comprised of leading global, regional, and technical practitioners specializing in different sectors who bring extensive practical experience and knowledge of fundamental principles, key issues, current practices, and emerging trends in the DRG community. CSM-STAND is implemented across two regions and is managed by Pact, which co-leads a consortium of organizations with IREX.