Lack of cybersecurity screening for the business sector could affect universities

The Dutch government is worried that sensitive information will be leaked to countries that would use it against the Netherlands. Last week, the Dutch Intelligence Service (AIVD) warned that countries such as China and Russia are using the higher education sector to spy on the Netherlands.

The Ministry of Education has been working on a measure against knowledge theft for years. It involves vetting new employees and master’s students in sensitive fields. If they pose a risk to knowledge security, colleges and universities must keep them out.

Businesses
But the business sector also holds sensitive knowledge that is just as vulnerable to theft. Should the government also screen all staff at companies developing computer chips, drones, AI, sensors, or other sensitive innovations?

The Ministry of Economic Affairs had considered its own screening law for "knowledge-intensive" companies, but that plan has since been scrapped, as it is difficult to define which companies should have new staff screened. The measure could easily involve thousands of companies, and such screening would cost tens of millions of euros annually.

Consequences for the Ministry of Education
This also has consequences for the Ministry of Education. After all, universities and universities of applied sciences also have companies under their umbrella, such as spin-offs founded by researchers. If staff at such companies are not screened, this creates a significant gap in protection against knowledge theft.

Furthermore, which fields of study should be covered by the screening law? The Ministry of Economic Affairs could not reach a conclusion, and the Ministry of Education is also having a hard time doing so. The bill has been repeatedly delayed, partly as a result.

Universities are not in favour of the law, with the association of Dutch universities (UNL) saying it is unworkable and expensive. The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) also sees little merit in it.

Letschert
In her previous role as president of Maastricht University, the Minister of Education, Rianne Letschert, was opposed to it. She told the NOS that sensitive knowledge is already adequately protected, and described the idea of eliminating risks with rules as naïve.

Now that she is a minister, she will have to deal with it. Earlier this month, Letschert told the House of Representatives that the bill will not be presented to the House for the time being. At least not this year.

Letschert will send a letter to the House of Representatives before the summer regarding a “workable, effective and proportionate knowledge security screening” process. She stresses the importance of “working in tandem” with the innovative business community.

It remains to be seen what she means by that, but the business community will not be subject to any screening. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science may also be considering shelving the screening bill.