Bulgaria's Circles Exports Surveillance Tech to Rights Violators

Between 2018 and 2023, Bulgaria licensed the export of surveillance technology from Circles, a company linked to NSO Group, to various countries with histories of human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch revealed that these licenses included tools for phone tracking and communication interception, targeting nations like Azerbaijan, Serbia, and the UAE. The exported technology is believed to be used for internal repression against journalists and political dissenters. Despite the EU's regulations on dual-use technology, Bulgaria's practices raise questions about compliance and enforcement. The Bulgarian government claims the technology is intended for legitimate law enforcement use, but the evidence suggests otherwise. Circles has been implicated in the misuse of surveillance tools against civil society. The lack of accountability and oversight in the licensing process highlights significant flaws in the EU's export control framework.

Key Points: • Bulgaria licensed Circles to export surveillance tech to countries with human rights violations. • Export licenses were granted for tools used in phone tracking and communication interception. • Human Rights Watch's findings raise concerns about the effectiveness of EU export controls.