MEP Schaake: “Stop Digital Arms Trade”

I posted the other day about Sweden’s digital surveillance exports to the Syrian regime two years ago. Today MEP Marietje Schaake (ALDE) gave a plenary speech on a very similar topic – closing the regulatory gap on digital arms trade. In her words: “We cannot talk about cybersecurity in Europe while being digital arms traders”

There is a myth that the internet in itself has the power to bring freedom of speech and democracy, but the truth is that it is also a powerful tool for mass surveillance. Democracies to lead by example and not use digital technologies to monitor their citizens. And democracies should by no means sell this technology to authoritarian regimes. Regular arms trade is full of limitations and approval processes to make sure weapons don’t end up in the wrong hands. Digital arms should be no exception