The Canadian company Sandvine, known for developing Internet control technologies, has been removed from the US sanctions list following a change in ownership and promises to reassess its operations. The US Department of Trade made this decision after Sandvine made commitments to make changes. However, Ron Dibert, director of the Citizen Lab, expressed skepticism regarding the potential impact of this decision. He pointed out that Sandvine installations are still being used in countries with questionable human rights records, suggesting that little may change in the near future.
Citizen Lab, a research center that first exposed violations linked to Sandvine technology in 2023, released the “Predator in the Wires” report, which ultimately led to US sanctions against the company. Dibert highlighted the lack of a regulatory framework in Canada as a significant issue and urged the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen measures concerning the export of such technologies.
In an interview with the Waterloo Region Record, Dibert expressed disappointment with the Canadian government’s lack of action in holding Sandvine accountable. He noted that the United States took the lead in addressing the company’s problematic practices, while Canada has not shown the same level of commitment.