The Wall Street Journal reported that the FBI is increasingly using hacking tools to monitor suspects, bringing criminal investigation and surveillance into the cyber age. According to court documents and interviews with people familiar with the program, the FBI's hacking tools mainly come from internal development and procurement from private companies. These include technologies capable of remotely activating the built-in microphones of Android devices and laptops to eavesdrop on conversations. The FBI also employs hackers to develop custom surveillance software.
Such tools are primarily used in investigations involving organized crime, child pornography, and counter-terrorism. Following the exposure of the NSA’s mass data collection program, surveillance technology has drawn increasing attention. Civil rights activists argue that there need to be clear legal guidelines to ensure that hacking tools are not misused.