Sekeris: Greece shares concerns about the threat posed by commercial spyware

The informal Arria Formula meeting of the Security Council, convened in the ECOSOC room at the request of the United States, focused on the impact of the spread and abuse of commercial spyware on the maintenance of international peace and security.
Greece shares the concerns of member states about the threat posed by the use of commercial spyware, highlighting its impact on international peace, security and human rights, as well as the possibility of provoking diplomatic tensions and conflicts.

The Greek Permanent Representative stressed the need for transparency, accountability and international cooperation to reduce the risks arising from this software.
“We support that member states should engage in a serious dialogue with a view to identifying ways to regulate and effectively manage the spread and use of commercial spyware, so that it contributes to and does not undermine international peace and security,” said the Greek Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris.

As he stressed, Greece has actively participated in relevant international initiatives to date, such as the Pall Mall Process, launched by the governments of the United Kingdom and France, and signed the relevant Declaration.

States, he added, must establish strong safeguards regarding the use of such technologies for legitimate purposes and ensure that such use does not violate human rights and fundamental freedoms or is carried out in a manner that is contrary to applicable international law.

“We encourage the inclusion of the discussion on commercial spyware in relevant disarmament fora, at the UN or elsewhere, such as the Open Working Group on Security and Use of Information and Communications Technologies, the Disarmament Committee and the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, in order to promote understanding of the potential use of commercial spyware in armed conflict,” Sekeris noted.
Sekeris referred to the role of the Security Council, emphasising that “it should take into account the results of the above processes and consider the regular discussion of the issue of the abuse of commercial spyware as a threat to international peace and security.”

SOURCE; ANA-MPA