U.S. State Department says ex-U.S. intelligence officer working for UAE bans arms exports

In this February 28, 2013 illustration, a man types on a computer keyboard in Warsaw.REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File photo

WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Three former U.S. intelligence officers who worked as cyber spies for the United Arab Emirates and admitted to hacking U.S. networks will be temporarily banned from arms exports under a deal announced by the U.S. State Department on Friday. Activity.

The agents – Mark Baier, Ryan Adams and Daniel Glick – were first part of a secret unit called Project Raven According to Reuterswhich helps the UAE spy on human rights activists, journalists and the government.

The three men pleaded guilty to hacking into U.S. computer networks and exporting sophisticated cyber-intrusion tools without obtaining the necessary permission from the U.S. government, according to U.S. federal court documents released in September. read more

In a statement, the State Department said its executive settlement with the three “resolves allegations of unauthorized provision of defense services involving electronic systems, equipment and software specifically designed for intelligence purposes.”

Under the agreement, they will be banned from directly or indirectly participating in any activity subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) for three years, the ministry said.

ITAR is a set of U.S. arms export controls that allow Washington to block the re-export of sensitive U.S. components embedded in foreign weapons.

The three men and their lawyers could not be immediately reached for comment.

Reporting by Rami Ayub; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama

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