US Commerce Department on Tuesday added two European-based surveillance companies to its blacklist as part of efforts by the administration of US President Joe Biden to combat the misuse of commercial surveillance. 

US authorities have blacklisted Cytrox, a surveillance company based in Hungary, and Greek company Intellexa, along with two related entities in Ireland and North Macedonia. 

Reuters news agency reported last year that a Greek prosecutor had launched an investigation into a journalist's allegations that his phone was infected with spyware as part of a state intelligence operation. 

The journalist told Reuters that he believed his phone was infected by the Predator spyware, created by the company Cytrox and said that this software is sold in Greece by Intellexa. 

US Department of Commerce has said that the companies have been added to the blacklist because they have used cyberspace to gain access to information systems, and thus have threatened the privacy and security of individuals and organizations around the world. 

Reuters reported in August 2022 – citing two sources – that Greece's intelligence chief told a parliamentary committee that his agency spied on a journalist. 

The journalist's suggestion comes as the European Union has begun to follow the United States' approach of being tougher on those who provide surveillance services and use powerful surveillance software. 

Reuters reported in 2020 that Intellexa had been working with intelligence agencies in Southeast Asia and Europe.