EU Faces Criticism Over Surveillance Technology Exports to Rights Violators

Human Rights Watch’s 54-page report argues that the EU’s 2021 Dual-Use Regulation has failed to stop exports of commercial surveillance technologies to countries with documented human-rights abuses, citing weak oversight, reduced transparency in 2024 implementation guidelines, and examples of exports to Azerbaijan and Rwanda; the report urges stronger human-rights due diligence, tighter export controls, and clearer public reporting ahead of the 2026 regulation review.