Story perspectives

HRW says EU Guidelines Hide Surveillance Sales, Demands Stricter Review

5/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

HRW says EU’s new reporting guidelines deliberately mask surveillance tools sold, weakening the Dual-Use Regulation’s purpose.
HRW cites Bulgaria’s 2022 sale of intrusion software to Azerbaijan and Poland’s 2023 shipment of interception systems to Rwanda.
The European Commission replied that it limited detail to protect exporters’ commercial confidentiality, despite the regulation’s transparency requirement.
HRW urges the EU to use the 2026 review to impose stricter due-diligence, transparency and civil-society participation.

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Story summary

HRW says EU’s new reporting guidelines deliberately mask surveillance tools sold, weakening the Dual-Use Regulation’s purpose.
HRW cites Bulgaria’s 2022 sale of intrusion software to Azerbaijan and Poland’s 2023 shipment of interception systems to Rwanda.
The European Commission replied that it limited detail to protect exporters’ commercial confidentiality, despite the regulation’s transparency requirement.
HRW urges the EU to use the 2026 review to impose stricter due-diligence, transparency and civil-society participation.