Journalists Urge EU to Restrict Surveillance Exports
The Committee to Protect Journalists seeks tighter controls on dual-use software exports to prevent human rights abuses.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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The Committee to Protect Journalists and partner organizations have called on the European Commission to strengthen regulations governing the export of surveillance software. The request targets loopholes that allow technology to reach countries with records of spying on journalists.
Why it matters
The signatories argue that current export policies fail to sufficiently prevent surveillance technology from being used to commit human rights violations. They seek to ensure that software with both civilian and military potential is not diverted to regimes that target independent media.
The 2021 Dual-Use Regulation currently governs the export of technologies designed for both civilian and military purposes within the European Union. This framework remains the primary legal instrument being scrutinized for potential loopholes in surveillance software oversight.
The players
Committee to Protect Journalists
This is an independent non-profit organization that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists worldwide.
European Commission
This is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions.
Maroš Šefčovič
He serves as the EU Trade Commissioner and is a primary contact for legislative and policy correspondence within the European Commission.
The details
The Committee to Protect Journalists sent a formal letter to EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič requesting policy updates to better monitor software exports. This push seeks to close gaps in existing regulations that allow surveillance tools to bypass oversight and end up in the hands of oppressive actors.
Timeline
The European Union enacted the Dual-Use Regulation in 2021.
The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a call to action on October 26, 2026.
The Tech Race
The call for stricter export controls directly challenges the current implementation of the European Union's 2021 Dual-Use Regulation. This initiative marks a significant effort to bridge the gap between rapidly evolving surveillance technology and outdated regulatory oversight.
Changes to export regulations could limit the global availability of intrusive surveillance tools used to target private communications. This could lead to more robust privacy safeguards for journalists and activists relying on digital infrastructure worldwide.
The takeaway
Tightening controls on dual-use software is essential to preventing the weaponization of technology against civil society. Ensuring that international trade policy keeps pace with digital capabilities is critical for global press freedom.
Further reading
Learn more about international digital policy in the Cybersecurity section.
More information
Read the Full text of the letter for more details.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Committee to Protect Journalists.
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