US Lawmakers Seek Blacklist Of Three Indian IT Firms Accused Of Hacking, Espionage

Last Updated:September 11, 2026, 05:07 IST

The lawmakers asked the US Commerce Department to add BellTroX, CyberRoot and Sunkissed Organic Farms Pvt Ltd, and its subsidiaries to the Entity List.

Being placed on the list would restrict the companies’ access to US software, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity tools. (AI image)

Three US lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to blacklist three Indian IT firms accused of serving as fronts for hack-for-hire operations, alleging they have been involved in “more than fifteen years of targeted espionage” against US citizens, businesses and lawyers, Reuters reported.

Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Republican Representative Pat Harrigan, asked the US Commerce Department to add BellTroX, CyberRoot and Sunkissed Organic Farms Pvt Ltd, formerly known as Appin Technology Pvt Ltd, and its subsidiaries to the Entity List.

Being placed on the list would restrict the companies’ access to US software, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity tools.

Allegations against the firms

According to Reuters, the lawmakers’ letter described the alleged activity as a long-running espionage campaign. The three companies have previously been identified in media reports and investigations by major technology firms as being linked to hack-for-hire operations.

Reuters reported in 2022 that BellTroX and CyberRoot were prominent players in the cybermercenary industry and had been used by Western lawyers and private investigators to spy on rivals during legal and business disputes.

A 2023 Reuters investigation identified Appin as an early player in the hack-for-hire industry, reporting that it had evolved from an educational venture into an operation that targeted executives, politicians, military officials and wealthy individuals.

Executives at all three companies have denied wrongdoing.

The allegations have also drawn attention from other technology and media organisations. The New Yorker and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism have reported on the firms’ alleged links to hacking-for-hire activity, while Meta and Google have published reports linking cyberattacks to the companies.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Which Indian IT firms are US lawmakers seeking to blacklist for alleged hacking and espionage?

US lawmakers are seeking to blacklist three Indian IT firms: BellTroX (also referred to as BellTrox Ltd), CyberRoot (also referred to as CyberRoot Ltd), and Sunkissed Organic Farms Pvt Ltd, which was formerly known as Appin Technology Pvt Ltd.

What specific restrictions would the Indian IT firms face if added to the US Entity List?

Being placed on the US Entity List would restrict the Indian companies’ access to US software, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity tools.

Who are the targets and alleged foreign backers of the Indian cyber-mercenary groups?

The groups allegedly targeted US citizens, businesses, private equity firms, pharmaceutical companies, and over 1,000 attorneys to manipulate litigation. There is also evidence they operated at the behest of the Qatari government, targeting opponents of Qatar’s World Cup bid and the family of a former Republican chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

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