Dutch government passes law to criminalize cyber-espionage therecord.media/netherlan…

The Dutch government has approved a law criminalizing a broader range of espionage activities, including digital espionage, in an effort to protect national security, critical infrastructure and sensitive technologies.

The new legislation, passed over the weekend, extends existing espionage laws that already make it a criminal offense to share state secrets. Under the updated law, leaking sensitive information that is not classified as a state secret or engaging in activities on behalf of a foreign government that harm Dutch interests can also result in criminal charges.

The rise of cyber-espionage also has prompted the government to introduce harsher penalties for computer-related offenses. Offenders could face up to eight years in prison, with the possibility of a 12-year sentence in extreme cases.