[liberationtech] Finfisher Spy Kit Revealed in Bahrain

[Pavol Luptak]

On Fri, Jul 27, 2012 at 11:54:33PM +0200, Andre Rebentisch wrote:
> Am 27.07.2012 12:58, schrieb Erich M.:
> >Here is my take [German alas] on that matter including the
> >reaction of the Social Democrat fraction in Europarl. MEP
> >Leichtfried from .AT has been the rapporteur and the guy who
> >managed to introduce surveillance software into the catalogue of
> >"dual use" goods.
> 
> Software is a service, not a good. Without discouraging the efforts:
> While it may undermine the commercial base it won't help to stop the
> spread of these tools.
> The Service aspect frames it more into commercial assistence of
> foreign espionage, here foreign domestic espionage. "Services" imply
> that the export nations do not develop the capabilities themselves
> and allows for all kind of trojan horses ("export versions") and
> contacts, from which you could assess the current capabilities of
> the regime.
> 
> Ironic: During the 90ths we voiced strong opinions against crypto
> export regulations, now virtually the same community seeks export
> controls for surveillance technology.

I am a bit skeptical about it. From the technical point of view to prohibit
a business between EU/US companies and dictatorship countries is almost
impossible (because they can use dozens of subcontractors in many 'grey'
countries and they do it if they want). Therefore, it is hard to say if this 
should be regulated by a law, I would prefer market - personally I would never
buy anything from the company that supports a dictator regime. The most 
companies cannot afford to do it, because otherwise their reputation can be
endangered.

Pavol
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