Dutch government passes law to criminalize cyber-espionage
The Dutch government has approved a law criminalizing a broader range of espionage activities, including digital espionage, in an effort to protect national security, critical infrastructure and sensitive technologies.
The new legislation, passed over the weekend, extends existing espionage laws that already make it a criminal offense to share state secrets. Under the updated law, leaking sensitive information that is not classified as a state secret or engaging in activities on behalf of a foreign government that harm Dutch interests can also result in criminal charges.
The rise of cyber-espionage also has prompted the government to introduce harsher penalties for computer-related offenses. Offenders could face up to eight years in prison, with the possibility of a 12-year sentence in extreme cases.
“We must strengthen our resilience against attacks and threats from abroad,” Justice and Security Minister David van Weel said in a statement.
Earlier in April, Dutch authorities announced plans to implement a vetting process for researchers and students seeking access to sensitive technology at Dutch academic institutions. This initiative comes amid growing concerns that foreign governments, particularly China, may be targeting Western research facilities to acquire intellectual property for both commercial and military purposes.
The Dutch intelligence service raised alarms last year about the extent of Chinese cyber espionage targeting Western governments and defense companies.
Russian activities have also raised concerns in the country. In a report in April, Dutch security services revealed that Russian state-sponsored hackers attempted to sabotage Dutch critical infrastructure in attacks this year and last.
Other institutions housed in the Netherlands have also faced hostilities from Russia — including the recent attempted infiltration of the International Criminal Court and an attempt to hack the international chemical weapons watchdog, both located in The Hague.
Daryna Antoniuk
is a reporter for Recorded Future News based in Ukraine. She writes about cybersecurity startups, cyberattacks in Eastern Europe and the state of the cyberwar between Ukraine and Russia. She previously was a tech reporter for Forbes Ukraine. Her work has also been published at Sifted, The Kyiv Independent and The Kyiv Post.