Netherlands Passes Landmark Law to Tackle Digital and Diaspora Espionage

In a bold move to safeguard national security, the Netherlands has passed a new law criminalizing both digital espionage and diaspora espionage, marking a significant shift in how the country addresses foreign influence operations.

The new legislation, approved by the Dutch parliament on Tuesday, targets individuals and groups who secretly work with foreign governments to undermine Dutch interests whether through cyber attacks or attempts to manipulate diaspora communities within the country.

Under the law, offenders can face up to eight years in prison, and up to 12 years in severe cases, such as espionage that results in loss of life or major national security breaches.

Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel described the law as a necessary response to rising threats:

“Espionage is, unfortunately, a frequent reality. As a nation, we must strengthen our resilience against attacks and threats from abroad.”

Of particular concern is diaspora espionage a tactic where foreign states infiltrate or monitor their nationals living abroad, often using community or cultural associations to push political agendas or intimidate dissidents.

This issue has drawn increasing attention across Europe, especially following reports of Chinese intelligence operations targeting diaspora groups and Western institutions. In recent years, Dutch authorities have shut down two Chinese-run offices in the country suspected of engaging in such activities, though Beijing claimed they were merely service centres for document renewals.

The Dutch intelligence service has also warned that cyber espionage particularly from China , is far more extensive than previously believed, with targets including Western governments and defence firms.

As the global conversation around foreign influence intensifies, the Netherlands’ new law could become a model for other countries seeking to protect their digital infrastructure and diaspora communities from covert manipulation.