US introduces restrictions against Canada-based company after accusations of Egypt censorship News
US introduces restrictions against Canada-based company after accusations of Egypt censorship

The US Bureau of Industry and Security amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) Monday by adding the Canada-based company Sandvine to the Entity list.

The Entity List identifies entities believed to have been involved with activities that contradict or do not align with the national security or foreign policy interests of the US. The US added Sandvine to the list based on information that Sandvine provides technology to the Egyptian Government, which has utilized it to mass web-monitor and censor specific news outlets and political rights activists. These actions are contrary to S. 744.11 of the EAR, so the Entity List was amended to include them.

Shortly after the announcement, Under Secretary for Industry and Security Alan F. Estevez justified the decision by saying:

The United States and our allies and partners are global leaders in innovation, and we must also be global leaders when it comes to living up to our shared values. Today’s additions to the Entity List demonstrate that we will not hesitate to act to ensure that powerful, commercially available technologies aren’t being used contrary to our values, which include standing against censorship, surveillance, and repression.

Sandvine has additional locations outside of Canada that have also been placed on the entity list, including India, Japan, Sweden, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. The Bureau of Industry and Security may remove an entity from the Entity List if it ceases behaving in these controversial behaviors or if it is no longer a significant risk to the interests of the United States.