On my resignation as regulator of the Dutch intelligence and security services - Bert Hubert's writings
a day ago
- The author served as one of three members of the Dutch TIB board, which reviews warrants for intelligence and security services before they are executed.
- The TIB’s prior approval was binding and worked well; services stopped activities if found unlawful, and the system was efficient and self-regulating.
- Proposed changes to Dutch intelligence law would eliminate the author’s role (technical risk analysis), reduce regulation on bulk interception, add algorithmic analysis without external approval, and shift oversight from ex-ante to ex-post.
- The author believes ex-post oversight is less effective because it can overload regulators, especially given the difficulty of recruiting skilled technical experts, and is vulnerable to 'starve the beast' tactics.
- The author resigned to speak publicly against the new law, which they see as democratic backtracking, and offers their services as a regulator willing to resign when things go wrong.