Statement: EU trade secrets directive threat to free speech, health, environment and worker mobility

Multi-sectoral civil society coalition calls for greater protections for consumers, journalists, whistleblowers, researchers and workers

We strongly oppose the hasty push by the European Commission and Council for a new European Union (EU) directive on trade secrets because it contains:

• An unreasonably broad definition of “trade secrets” that enables almost anything within a company to be deemed as such;
• Far-reaching legal remedies for companies whose “trade secrets” have been “unlawfully acquired, used or disclosed”, including provisional and precautionary measures, damages and secrecy rights throughout the judicial process; and
• Inadequate safeguards that will not ensure that EU consumers, journalists, whistleblowers, researchers and workers have reliable access to important data that is in the public interest.

The proposal must be amended to ensure that only information acquired, disclosed or used by third parties with intention of commercial gain is protected under the directive.

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