EU Curbs Export of Surveillance Systems

By Vernon Silver

The European Union will curb the export of telephone- and data-interception technology to nations that use the tools to violate human rights, following reports that Western surveillance gear was used to track dissidents in Middle East crackdowns.

The European Parliament voted today in Strasbourg, France, to bar overseas sales of systems that monitor phone calls and text messages, or provide targeted Internet surveillance, if they are used to violate democratic principles, human rights or freedom of speech.

The legislation leaves enforcement to each of the EU’s 27 member nations. It also lets companies declare exports of the software and hardware 30 days after the gear has left the EU, rather than require prior approval from national authorities, reflecting a compromise reached to get the measure passed. (more on bloomberg.com)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-27/eu-curbs-export-of-surveillance-systems.html