Agenda Expert meeting and open dialogue session on ICT companies: Exploring ways to Enhance Regulation and Strengthen

Accountability Friday, 4th of April 2013 University Foundation Room A 11 rue d'Egmont Brussels, Belgium

14:30-15:00: Official launch of the CAUSE coalition Moderator: Clmence Bectarte, Coordinator Legal Action Group, FIDH Genevive Paul, Head of Globalisation and Human Rights Desk, FIDH Kenneth Page, Policy Officer, Privacy International Grgoire Poujet, Head of New Media Desk, Reporters without Borders (RSF) Ara Marcen Naval, Advocacy Coordinator, Arms Control, Security Trade and Human Rights Campaigns Programme, Amnesty International Tim Maurer, Research Fellow, New America's Open Technology Institute Wenzel Michalski, Germany Director, Human Rights Watch 15:00-17:30: Open dialogue session Moderator: Genevive Paul, Head of Globalisation and Human Rights Desk, FIDH Respondents Marietje Schaake, Member of the European Parliament, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (video intervention) Ben Wagner, Researcher specialized on the trade of surveillance technologies, European University Institute of Florence Caspar Bowden, Privacy advocate, former Chief privacy adviser at Microsoft Michel Quentin, Researcher specialized in export controls of dual-use items, University of Liege Stphane Chardon, Directorate General Trade, European Commission (TBC)

15:00- 16:15: EU and national regulatory framework: What is the state of play? This first part of the dialogue session will focus on the current state of play regarding EU and national regulations. Looking at the national implementation of the Wassenaar Arrangement in the EU as well as the EU dual-use regulation, panelists will be asked to answer the following questions: What does the recent revision of the Wassenaar arrangement imply for the trade of surveillance technologies? Have participating states introduced new measures to restrict the sales of surveillance technologies? In light of the EU dual-use regulation as well as national measures, what are Member states best practices concerning the regulation of surveillance technology exports? What to expect from the current reform of the EU dual-use regulation?

16:15-16:30: Coffee break 16:30-17:30: Moving forward: recommendations. This session will look at the main challenges ahead with a view to formulate recommendations to ensure the prevention of human rights abuses and to ensure accountability of government and private companies involved. Respondents and commentators will be looking at answering the following questions: What are the existing loopholes that allow European companies to export surveillance technologies? How effective are export controls in preventing human rights violations? Which measures should the EU take to ensure that transfers of commercial surveillance technology do not contribute to human rights abuses or internal repression? What other avenues of approach are there for holding ICT companies accountable for their actions?