Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Stelios Himonas said on Wednesday before the House Committee on Legal Affairs that the Deputy Ministry is working on a stricter framework for dual-use software licensing related to surveillance of persons.

The Committee is examining the involvement of Cyprus in the production and distribution of software that may be used for illegal surveillance.

Chimonas said that the competent services are coordinating their actions for tightening the specific framework. He noted that two separate registers will be created for this purpose, one for manufacturers of such devices for which a first draft of legislation was prepared while a second devices register will also be created. He also noted that the legislation will include provisions for market surveillance.

He noted that based on the current legislation and due to the EU's single market, software export within the EU is not controlled, adding that only operations with third countries are controlled. He said there is intention to have a regulation to license any operation either inside or outside the EU.

Earlier on, an official of the Ministry of Energy, which issues the relevant licenses, said that no licenses have been issued for spying devices, however, licenses have been issued for dual-use software.