Senator Wyden demands GAO probe how FBI, DEA, and Secret Service use hacking tools and spyware

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has formally requested the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to launch a comprehensive investigation into how federal law enforcement agencies deploy hacking tools and spyware against Americans, citing a critical lack of transparency. In a letter sent to the GAO on Friday and shared with TechCrunch, Wyden highlighted that the public knows little about the scope, frequency, or safeguards surrounding these operations.

The senator's request targets four major agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Secret Service. Wyden noted that while hacking tools and spyware have been used for over two decades, the government does not publish annual reports on these activities, unlike wiretaps and pen registers, which track call metadata. This lack of reporting, he argued, leaves Congress and the public in the dark about potential abuses.

Wyden specifically asked the GAO to investigate whether federal agents have misused these tools for unauthorized or personal purposes. He also wants the watchdog to assess the technical and oversight measures currently in place to prevent such misuse. The senator emphasized that the Department of Justice and the FBI "have repeatedly ignored congressional requests for greater transparency across multiple administrations," making the GAO review essential.

The letter requests the GAO to produce an unclassified report with its findings and recommendations. Wyden's move comes amid growing concerns over the government's use of surveillance technology, including commercial spyware like Pegasus, which has been linked to human rights abuses globally. While the letter does not name specific spyware vendors, it underscores the broader issue of accountability in federal hacking operations.

If the GAO agrees to the inquiry, it would mark one of the most detailed examinations of federal hacking practices to date, potentially revealing how often these tools are used, for what crimes, and whether they comply with legal and constitutional limits. Wyden has long been a vocal critic of government surveillance overreach, and this letter represents his latest effort to force transparency from the executive branch.