All foreign tech students in the Netherlands to be screened

All prospective university researchers and students from abroad and involved in sensitive technology must be screened in the future, Dutch Minister of Education Bruins has announced. Initially, the plan was to test only persons from ‘at-risk countries’ (ie non-EU countries), but following the advice from the state attorney, Bruins has announced that the target audience will be broadened. The previous demarcation was deemed “legally vulnerable” because of the risk of discrimination.

At the same time, the change in direction means that entire departments and disciplines will no longer automatically fall under the scope of the legislation that’s being prepared. Instead, risks can be determined at the level of individual projects and research lines.

Bruins expects to present his bill before summer.