On 23 November, the EU Trade Committee voted to extend EU export controls to include cyber-surveillance technologies (i.e. ones that could be used not only for civilian purposes, but also in violation of human rights). The new rules would essentially modernise the existing dual-use regulation (428/2009) to encompass cyber-surveillance items that might be used as “intrusion software” and “monitoring centres” to collect, store and analyse data, for example from mobile traffic. The proposals aim to protect “human security”. The Trade Committee vote saw 34 votes in favour, one in opposition and two abstentions (see here for details). The December plenary session will determine Parliament’s negotiating mandate.
