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...