The commercial spyware industry has undergone explosive growth in recent years, and the implications for everyday people are grim indeed. That’s the subject of Ronan Farrow’s new film “Surveilled,” which premieres on Max on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Farrow travels the world, from New York to Spain to Israel to detail the lengths which states are going to install spyware on more devices, including those of journalists, politicians, and ordinary people. See the results of the investigation with a subscription to Max.

How to watch ‘Surveilled’

• When: Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 9 p.m. ET
• TV: Max
• Stream: Watch with a subscription to Max.

Everything you need to know about ‘Surveilled’

Watch a trailer for ‘Surveilled’

About ‘Surveilled’

Commercial spyware, capable of taking full control of cell phones without the owners’ knowledge, and long billed as a tool purchased by governments to fight terrorism, is now appearing on the phones of activists, journalists, political figures, and regular people. “Surveilled” takes us inside the secretive industry and into the offices of the Israeli spyware company NSO Group, gaining rare access to the engineers and executives behind the controversial spyware Pegasus.

As Farrow exposes the complex relationship between the spyware-makers and the big tech companies dedicated to preventing security breaches of their platforms, “Surveilled” illuminates a clandestine business reshaping contemporary concepts of privacy and power and reveals the ethical dilemmas that citizens and governments must now navigate in the brave new world of cyberespionage.

What time does ‘Surveilled’ air?

“Surveilled” will arrive for streaming on Max at the same time it debuts on linear HBO. That debut is set for 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

How to watch ‘Surveilled’ from anywhere

There are many territories around the world where Max isn’t available, and once you find out the premise of “Surveilled” you might want to take extra steps to ensure your web browsing is more secure. A VPN can help with both problems; not only does a VPN allow viewers to connect to servers around the world and make it appear that’s their actual location, unlocking geo-blocked streaming content, it allows customers to send their browsing data through a private passageway that keeps prying eyes away from their history.

NordVPN is one of the best providers around at one of the best prices. Currently, as part of their ongoing Black Friday VPN deal, you can get two full years of protection for just $3/month — plus you’ll get three extra months at no cost whatever. A high-speed VPN with best-in-class security that can be used on up to ten devices at once sounds like the dream, but that’s exactly what NordVPN provides. All you have to do is subscribe, download the app on your chosen devices, and start watching.

What other documentaries are available on Max?

If hard-hitting documentaries like “Surveilled” are your bread and butter, there’s plenty else to stream on Max. The service hosts titles like “The Jinx” about the life and crimes of Robert Durst, the Max original “They Called Him Mostly Harmless,” and dozens of other spine-chilling tales about cold-blooded killers and frightening situations that all of us could find ourselves in.