The United Kingdom and France are set to initiate a consultation aimed at addressing the “proliferation and irresponsible use” of commercial cyber intrusion tools.

This effort is part of the broader Pall Mall Process, a governmental initiative designed to curb the misuse of tools such as spyware, according to a recent statement from the U.K. government.

The consultation will invite a diverse group of stakeholders, including state representatives, industry organizations, and civil society experts, to contribute insights on best practices regarding the use of these cyber capabilities. The U.K. government emphasized that this initiative is a joint effort with France, and participants should be aware that their details may be shared with French counterparts.

This collaboration was formalized during a diplomatic conference in February, where the Pall Mall declaration was signed. The event saw participation from a coalition of states, businesses, and civil society, including major corporations like Apple, BAE Systems, Google, and Microsoft. The parties agreed to reconvene in Paris in 2025 to further these discussions.

Andrew Dwyer, a cybersecurity researcher in the U.K., expressed cautious optimism about the consultation. He noted that while the consultation alone may not bring about significant change, it could play a crucial role in shaping broader standards for the use of commercial hacking tools. However, Dwyer pointed out the challenges in reconciling differing views on cyber intrusion tools across various communities.

The urgency of this initiative is underscored by a warning from GCHQ, the U.K.’s cyber and signals intelligence agency, which reported that more than 80 countries had acquired spyware over the past decade.

While some of these tools were intended for legitimate law enforcement purposes, they have also been used to target journalists, human rights activists, political dissidents, and foreign government officials, raising serious concerns about their impact on national security and human rights.

As the Paris conference approaches, French tech governance and diplomacy expert Jérôme Barbier highlighted the importance of conducting intermediary meetings to ensure the success of the Pall Mall Process. Dwyer echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for thorough consultation to inform the discussions at the 2025 conference.

For further details on this initiative, you can read the original article here.