The Committee to Protect Journalists and partners on Monday called on the European Commission to stop the export by European Union member states of dual-use surveillance software to countries with records of spying on journalists.
The joint letter to EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič makes recommendations aimed at addressing loopholes in the EU’s Dual-Use Regulation, a 2021 law that controls the export of technology with both a civilian and military purpose.
The legislation seeks in principle to prevent human rights harm, including in countries where journalists are targeted and under surveillance because of their work. However the signatories to the letter express “concern at the increasing number of harmful exports of surveillance technology by EU member states to destinations where there is a real risk they will be used to violate rights.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.