Ahead of the third Summit for Democracy due to take place in the Republic of Korea on 18–20 March 2024, Ireland has signed up to the Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware as announced at the second Summit for Democracy in 2023.

The proliferation of commercial spyware and the manner in which these technologies are being misused by authoritarian regimes and in democracies are matters of serious concern that require a coordinated international response.

The Irish government has welcomed the opportunity to join this important collective action, saying we are committed to the principles of the Joint Statement and share the objectives of curbing the proliferation of these technologies and developing and implementing policies to discourage their misuse.

These technologies can play a legitimate and important role in supporting the work of law enforcement agencies and security services when used in a manner that is consistent with respect for human rights, the rule of law, and democratic principles. This initiative also seeks to elaborate on the best practices in this context.

The Irish government again reaffirms its commitment to playing its role in achieving the objectives of this initiative and will work closely with our international partners and key stakeholders in this regard.