Relevance to Theme: Dual use technology have a duality pertaining each item of the theme. The technology have been imported by governments in the Gulf countries as part and piece of their political stability and security claims. As they are developing a cybersecurity and cybercrimes paradigm which heavily penalises and criminalises human rights and freedoms, their claims are questionable. Therefore, we look at security at both ends: the claims of national security through the use of surveillance technologies, and human security of arbitrarily targeted human rights defenders. For stability, it is stability of oppressive governments versus stability of human rights activism and advocacy, and similarly the resilience of a crackdown on digital rights vis-à-vis resilient civic space for exercising human rights and freedoms. In this discussion, we have a particular focus on conflict-torn communities as in Yemen and Syria where the duality of security, safety, stability and resilience are intensified.
Relevance to Internet Governance: Agreeing that internet governance should be guided by the Universal Declaration for Human Rights and UN Human Rights Conventions, we are driven to institutionalise the respect of freedoms of opinion, thought, expression, and right to privacy in the governance of technologies. The development of a dual use technology export ban requires the collective efforts of different stakeholders. Essentially, governments and international governmental organisations should be engaged in the formulation, enactment and holding governments accountable for the mandates of an export ban. In addition, with collaboration with the private sector and tech community, the export ban can be introduced through the lens of business and human rights. This lens encourages private companies and the tech community to be aware of the consequences of practices that perpetuate human rights abuses. Therefore, not only the export ban requires collective effort to develop it but also to enforce it and keep checks, a task mainly for civil society but also should be introduced to governments, IGOs and the private sector.
