The European Union has tightened up export rules on cybersurveillance tools in an effort to limit their spread to repressive regimes.
The new rules covering “dual use” products and services – those that can be used in both a civilian and military context – were announced this week and follow years of negotiations. They were necessary, the EU said, because of “technological developments and growing security risks.”
The goods affected will include controls on things like high-end computers and drones, identification software and spyware. The new rules put a stress on human rights as a key criteria for approving or refusing export licenses.
Member states will be required to “consider the risk of use in connection with internal repression or the commission of serious violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law."
In an europe clamps cybersurveillance exports pushes human rights focus
