The European Union is facing renewed criticism over its failure to stop the export of surveillance technology to governments accused of human rights violations, according to a new report released by Human Rights Watch. The report claims that despite the EU’s landmark Dual-Use Regulation introduced in 2021, EU surveillance technology tool are still reaching countries where they are allegedly used to target journalists, activists, academics, and other critical voices.
The 54-page report, titled “Looking the Other Way: EU Failure to Prevent Surveillance Exports to Rights Violators,” raises concerns about weak oversight, limited transparency, and gaps in enforcement within the EU’s surveillance technology export framework.
EU Surveillance Technology Exports Continue Despite Safeguards
The report highlights that the majority of EU member states host companies involved in the development and export of surveillance technology. These tools include intrusion software and telecommunication interception systems capable of monitoring private communications and tracking individuals.
According to Human Rights Watch, the growing global use of commercial spyware and related surveillance technology has become a major human rights concern. Governments in several countries have allegedly used such technologies to suppress dissent, monitor opposition voices, and restrict civic freedoms.
The EU’s Dual-Use Regulation was introduced to regulate exports of technologies that could serve both civilian and military purposes. The regulation aimed to strengthen oversight of surveillance technology exports by requiring member states to assess the human rights records of destination countries before approving sales.
The law also introduced transparency and reporting obligations requiring EU member states to share export licensing data with the European Commission for inclusion in annual public reports.
However, Human Rights Watch argues that the implementation of these measures has fallen short of their intended purpose.
Human Rights Watch Flags Weak Oversight and Transparency
A major focus of the report is the EU’s 2024 implementation guidelines for the Dual-Use Regulation. Human Rights Watch claims the guidelines weakened transparency requirements and limited public access to meaningful information about surveillance technology exports.
The organization said the reporting system currently does not provide enough detail to determine whether exports are contributing to human rights abuses.
To investigate further, Human Rights Watch submitted freedom of information requests to all 27 EU member states seeking data on surveillance technology licensing and exports. The findings revealed several examples of exports to countries with documented records of surveillance-related rights violations.
Among the cases highlighted were exports of surveillance tools from Bulgaria to Azerbaijan in 2022 and telecommunication interception systems exported from Poland to Rwanda in 2023.
The report states that these exports included technologies capable of intercepting communications and conducting intrusive digital surveillance.
Human Rights Watch also criticized both EU institutions and member states for frequently citing trade secrets, national security, and international relations as reasons for withholding export information from public scrutiny.
Concerns Over Surveillance Technology and Human Rights
The report argues that surveillance technology can directly threaten several fundamental rights, including privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and in some cases even the right to life and protection from torture.
Human Rights Watch said journalists, activists, humanitarian workers, and anti-corruption investigators are among those most vulnerable to misuse of surveillance tools. The organization warned that digital surveillance can expose confidential sources, restrict independent reporting, and create risks to personal safety.
According to the report, the EU remains one of the largest hubs for commercial surveillance technology companies globally. A 2024 report by Google’s Threat Analysis Group reportedly found that nearly all major commercial surveillance companies mentioned in its research were based in the EU.
European Commission Faces Pressure Ahead of 2026 Review
The European Commission is expected to begin a formal evaluation of the Dual-Use Regulation in September 2026. Human Rights Watch is urging the commission, the European Parliament, and EU member states to strengthen the rules governing surveillance technology exports during the review process.
The organization is calling for stricter human rights due diligence requirements, stronger export controls, and greater transparency in reporting. It also wants surveillance companies to conduct more detailed assessments of whether their products could be used to facilitate rights abuses.
In response to questions raised in the report, the European Commission stated that licensing decisions for dual-use exports are handled by individual EU member states. The commission also defended certain reporting limitations, saying that detailed disclosures could reveal commercially sensitive information or identify companies involved in exports.
Still, Human Rights Watch argues that the current framework is failing to provide effective oversight.
Zach Campbell, senior surveillance researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the EU needs “real transparency” to ensure that the regulation works as intended and prevents European surveillance technology from enabling abuse worldwide.
