[Online round table] Trading emerging technologies: Security and human rights perspectives

Digital technology has been at the forefront of the US-China trade war. The tensions have in part led the US government to initiate the export control of emerging technologies, including, not only advanced information technology, but also robotics, brain-computer interfaces, and additive manufacturing such as 3D printing.

The demand for digital technology in both public and private sectors has created a thriving global market. However, while digital technology trade brings economic and social benefits, the trading practice has also intensified tensions among states which regard it as increasing security vulnerabilities.

On Tuesday 15 September 2020, the Asser Institute and Utrecht University are jointly organising an online expert round table on the topic of ‘Trading Emerging Technologies: Security and Human Rights Perspectives’.

Regulatory narratives

This expert round table aims at understanding and comparing the underlying narrative and justification used by the US, EU, and European states in regulating (or attempting to regulate) the trade of advanced digital technology and other emerging technologies. The focus will be directed at the comparison and synergy of security versus human rights narratives. On the one hand, the US government has employed broad “national security” narrative in order to take proactive steps in regulating the trade practices. On the other hand, the EU has taken certain initiatives – at least until 2018 – to foster human rights perspectives in regulating the export of digital surveillance technology. While EU member states remain divided, the Dutch government notably advocated the EU’s proactive role in promoting the regulation of digital technology exports on the basis of their human rights risks (see: Kamerbrief inzake Betreft Stand van zaken herziening dual use-verordening binnen de EU, 29 August 2018).

Human rights narratives have also been recently advocated at the UN’s level. In his May 2019 report, Special Rapporteur David Kaye expressed serious concerns about the status of ‘surveillance exports’. In view of the growing digital surveillance market at the expense of human rights protection, he foremost recommended that states ‘impose an immediate moratorium’ on the ‘export, sale, transfer, use or serving of privately developed surveillance tools’—until ‘a human rights-complaint safeguards regime’ is in place (Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, ‘Surveillance and Human Rights’ UN Doc. A/HRC/41/35, 28 May 2019).

The round table will address the mixed narrative of security and human rights underlying trade restrictions imposed (or to be imposed) on information technology and other emerging technologies. What are the fundamental differences among the key industrial players in imposing trade restrictions on advanced information technology and other emerging technologies? What role should and could the EU play in reforming the regulatory frameworks?

Given the sensitivity of the discussions, the event takes place under Chatham House Rules.

The event is jointly organised by the Asser Institute and the Utrecht Centre for Global Challenges’ project on ‘Disrupting Technological Innovation? Towards an Ethical and Legal Framework’.

When? September 15th

Venue: Online

Fee: Free

Participation and registration 

To participate, please register here.

The registered participants will receive a website link before the event.

Programme

13.00-13.10: Machiko Kanetake (Utrecht University) and Berenice Boutin (Asser Institute) – Opening

 13.10-14.00: Brigitte Dekker and Maaike Okano-Heijmans (Clingendael)

US-China technology conflict and the need for new approaches to export control of emerging technologies

Commentator: Valentin Weber (University of Oxford)

 14.00-14.50: Merel Koning (Amnesty International)

Cyber-surveillance technology and human rights protection in export regulation in the EU

Commentator: Ben Wagner (Vienna University of Economics and Business)

14.50-15.20: Break

15.20-16.10: Stéphane Chardon (European Commission)

Export control, emerging technologies, security and human rights: squaring the circle

Commentator: Paul Diegel (European Parliament)

16.10-16.55: Tim van Essen and Casper Volger (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands)

The Dutch Approaches to the Export Control of Emerging Technologies

Commentator: Machiko Kanetake

16.55-17.00: Concluding remarks by: Berenice Boutin

To download the programme, click here.