Imposition of Foreign Policy Controls on Surreptitious Communications Intercepting Devices

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by imposing new foreign policy export and reexport controls on devices primarily useful for the surreptitious interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications classified under Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 5A980. In this rule, BIS also imposes controls on related software and technology by creating ECCNs 5D980 and 5E980. BIS is taking this action in order to prevent the unlawful interception of oral, wire, or electronic communications by terrorists and others who may put the information gained through intercepted communications to an unlawful use, to promote the protection of privacy of oral, wire, or electronic communications; and to protect against threats of terrorism around the world.