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| The European Parliament has tightened controls on the export of spyware |
The European Parliament announced that it will take measures to restrict the export of surveillance technology (including spyware) outside the European Union.
This measure enabled the European Union to establish new ground rules for the sale of so-called dual-use technologies that could be used legally or in a way that harms human rights.
MEP Markéta Gregorovà said in a statement: The premise of the new rules is to limit the ability of authoritarian regimes to covertly protect European rights to electronic surveillance.
New barriers to protection include updates to EU export controls, such as: licensing standards that focus more on human rights and EU-wide plans that place requirements on stricter rules for declaring exports to member states.
European Parliament member Bernd Lange (Bernd Lange) said in a statement: Respect for human rights has become a standard for export.
He added: This is an important step for the European Union. For the first time, the country agreed to export rules for surveillance technology, and economic interests cannot take precedence over human rights.
In recent years, human rights organizations have tried to make progress in restricting the export of spyware, but the courts have blocked the process due to a lack of political will.
The EU's tightening control over the transfer of future spyware is a step forward for those trying to end the human rights violations that can occur when surveillance technology falls into the wrong hands.
Last year, United Nations representatives called for a halt to the worldwide sale, transfer and export of spyware.
Security researchers also called for stricter controls over malware and government-sponsored surveillance tools.
The announcement by the European Parliament is not surprising because the European Union has been trying for years to better control the dual-use technology.
The move comes four years after the European Commission submitted a proposal to sell dual-use goods from European Union member states outside the European Union. The negotiator said: The proposal must take into account surveillance technology.
The negotiator wrote in the statement of reasons: The European Union should include internet technology in the EU's export control system so that the technology is not used to seriously violate human rights and thus endanger security, democracy, pluralism and freedom of expression.
According to the European Parliament, the agreement must be approved by the International Trade Commission, Parliament and Council.