Sandvine Announces Exit from 56 Non-Democratic Countries Due to Ongoing Internet Surveillance Practices
In a significant overhaul, Sandvine, the Canadian company behind surveillance-ware used by authoritarian countries to censor the internet and spy on their citizens, has announced its decision to leave dozens of "non-democratic" countries. This move marks a major shift in the company’s strategy, with Sandvine now aiming to become a leading technology solution provider for democracies.
A New Direction for Sandvine
After years of controversy surrounding its business practices, Sandvine has published a statement claiming that it wants to be "a technology solution leader for democracies." As part of this new strategy, the company has already left 32 countries and is in the process of exiting another 24.
The Countries Affected
Sandvine has not disclosed the names of the 56 countries affected by its decision, apart from Egypt. In Egypt, Sandvine has promised to leave by the end of March 2025. For the remaining countries, including non-government customers in Egypt, the "end-of-service" date will be the end of 2025.
The Role of Investigations and Government Pressure
This change in direction comes after years of investigations by Bloomberg, which reported that Sandvine had sold its internet surveillance products to authoritarian regimes, including Belarus, Egypt, Eritrea, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. The company’s decision was based on a review of its operations using The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 Democracy Index, which categorizes countries based on their "regime type." Sandvine also worked closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, and other key members of the U.S. government to inform its decision.
The Impact of Government Pressure
The U.S. Department of Commerce had previously placed Sandvine on a blocklist, known as the Entity List, accusing the company of selling its products to the Egyptian government, which used Sandvine for mass web-monitoring and censorship to block news and target political actors and human rights activists.
Expert Analysis
According to experts, the pressure applied by the U.S. government actions against Sandvine was effective in forcing the company to re-evaluate its business practices. "For a long time, we knew about the harm but didn’t know what might effectively pump the brakes on out-of-control surveillance tech proliferation," said John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab.
The Role of Investigation and Advocacy
Ron Deibert, the director of Citizen Lab, agreed that the Sandvine case demonstrates the impact of careful evidence-based research, investigative journalism, and advocacy. "This is a testament to the power of investigation and advocacy in shaping corporate behavior," said Deibert.
The Future of Surveillance Technology
As technology continues to evolve, companies like Sandvine will face increasing scrutiny over their role in enabling authoritarian regimes to surveil and censor their citizens. The shift in direction by Sandvine marks a significant turning point in the industry, with many companies now recognizing the need for greater transparency and accountability.
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